"It was a timely event that let me get away from studies and my home to embark on an adventure that will leave me in various emotions at every turn."
Francis Nguyen, Trip participant
Day 1
We set off bright and early and full of excitement on Day 1 and made our way to our first community - Dalby. On the way we were able to have the chance to get to know one another, and stop at the beautiful Toowoomba Picnic Point for lunch.
After lunch, we arrived at Dalby, and some of us headed out to our first project - helping make paper lanterns for this years Delicious and Delightful Festival! We thoroughly enjoyed helping make a number of sea creature-shaped lanterns for the event.
After lunch, we arrived at Dalby, and some of us headed out to our first project - helping make paper lanterns for this years Delicious and Delightful Festival! We thoroughly enjoyed helping make a number of sea creature-shaped lanterns for the event.
Day 2
On our second day in Dalby, we had opportunities to engage in a number of volunteer projects.
This included gardening and cleaning at the Pioneer Park Museum, the Blue Care centre and the Crisis Support Association Centre. During the day we were all lucky enough to view the varying exhibits at the Pioneer Park Museum which showcase history in Dalby and a variety of artefacts which give interesting insights into the past.
We also continued with preparations for Dalby's Delicious and DeLIGHTful Festival. We were tasked with building a low-budget children's playground, as well as an art installation. So, we painted some cardboard boxes and filled them up, giving them a cubby house feel. We later found out that these lasted until the Festival, where a large number of children were able to enjoy them!
This included gardening and cleaning at the Pioneer Park Museum, the Blue Care centre and the Crisis Support Association Centre. During the day we were all lucky enough to view the varying exhibits at the Pioneer Park Museum which showcase history in Dalby and a variety of artefacts which give interesting insights into the past.
We also continued with preparations for Dalby's Delicious and DeLIGHTful Festival. We were tasked with building a low-budget children's playground, as well as an art installation. So, we painted some cardboard boxes and filled them up, giving them a cubby house feel. We later found out that these lasted until the Festival, where a large number of children were able to enjoy them!
After a long day of projects, we were fortunate enough to hear about a different side of regional life by visiting a property and speaking with the owners about the gas wells on their property and their experiences working with the Coal Seam Gas Industry.
Later in the evening, we were fortunate to engage in discussions and reflect on our work, our presence within the community and the conversations that we had held during the day. This service learning approach is a large part of what Big Lift is all about and it is so wonderful to be able to be part of a group that values both our individual and collective development over the course of the trip.
Later in the evening, we were fortunate to engage in discussions and reflect on our work, our presence within the community and the conversations that we had held during the day. This service learning approach is a large part of what Big Lift is all about and it is so wonderful to be able to be part of a group that values both our individual and collective development over the course of the trip.
