nellie

I think I am on the blog at last. Hope so. This is Nirelle. I am happy to go along with the arrangements and very grateful that Colleen and Sandie are looking after us all. I do hope most of you can come. It is a wondrous thing that our family is so large, and so untainted by great tragedy, and I relish the chance to see everyone again. I feel hamstrung, as I am not allowed to use an exclamation mark.

Love and thanks,

Change of date!

Hi all, I knew this would happen so here's hoping we have caught you all in time, and hope you all understand, we need to change the date!!!!

The weekend chosen prevents many from coming and we do not want to make it that challenging for people, so we are saying now let's make it the next weekend, the Friday 11th - Sunday 13th April 2008.

Is that going to exclude anyone???

Please let me know, if you do not hear back from me in the next couple of days then assume it's all good and go ahead and make bookings, for those of you speedy gonzales' that already have, apologies and hope the bookings are easy enough to change.

It was bound to happen when the reality set in, so here's hoping it all cruises a bit now. (The only other possible change will be to go back to the original plans if this change excludes more people... am I confusing you all yet?)

Also with the Blog challenges, Colleen can we make it public again, people are having trouble accessing it, and you might like the re-invite those who have yet to participate so that they can access it more easily?!

Cheers people, thanks for your patience!!!
Hugs! Sandie!

McCunion

Alrighty it's been really quiet again, so let's make a decision and take it from there. Let's go for the weekend of the 5th and 6th April 2008, the first weekend of the school holidays, at the Bunya's! This way if people want to aim to get there the Friday night or Saturday morning they can catch up with the Terry Branch on the Saturday before they head to their Canarvon Gorge camping trip. We can make more specific arrangements closer to time but this at least enables people to date claim and book accommodation.

Bunyas Websites!

Hi all, following Carmel's comments on accommodation, suitability and availability, I thought I'd post up these links to the following websites about the Bunyas. Not saying we have decided where and when yet but this may help, these are decisions we have to make very soon!!!
Cheers!
Sandie

Bunya Mountains
Welcome to Bunya Mountain Getaway
Bunya Mountains Tourist Facilities
Welcome to Rice's Log Cabins
Bunya Mountains Accommodation - Chalets and Holiday Homes
Bunya Mountain Getaway & Cider Gum Restaurant

Combens

Back from pedalling/camping - a great way to travel except for those few wet days:( Pedalled past Sunnyvale - country all looks spectacular after the rain. Anyone who would like to join us on the birthday family camp at Carnarvon Gorge is very welcome. Last time we went (18 years ago) was a wet camp so we're hoping for better weather and staying at the Bush resort there just in case - some in tents and some in canvas "cabins". Have adjusted the dates slightly to accommodate our uni students whose holidays don't coincide with the school holidays next year. We've booked from Sat 5 April for 6 nights so they can come for a few days and return earlier to avoid missing too many lectures if they want to. If the weekend of 5/6 April is best for reunion then so be it - we will attend on the way up to Carnarvon Gorge and they can work around it. Love to all

Easter McCunion

Hi'all, i'm back from cruis'n and i'm still swaying after 4.5 mt swells all way home (not good!) Hey, i've never used a blog before and am very impressed.. this is great! We will be in Brisbane for Christmas so may be able to catch up with some then for pre-reunion discussions. Next Easter we will probably be at home, as Keith usually helps his mum in the shops over the public holidays. However, we may be able to drive out to the Bunya's for the day or overnight. Happy to fit in with all. Of course only too happy to help out anyone with accommodation concerns here in Toowoomba and could "put up" a few of you, if required. You know me... love to catch up with all my rellies!!! Hey, Sandie, could you please give me all those other McCoy email addresses, such as Jo's and Tanya's.. i don't think i have the correct ones.
xox Love to all (Oh my God...I just wish this house would stay still!!)
Cruis'n Christine.

In the meantime...

Having been chatting to Paula in Facebook, am loving all of these connections, and she suggested still having a get together this year for anyone who will be in or around the SE in the Xmas holidays. This will be a great opportunity to fine tune some of the details for the full on reunion next year. I plan to be in the area for a few weeks in that time, but don't really plan on carrying my patio with me, so if anyone wants to suggest a venue and date then those around can be there! Any other country cousins, meaning anyone outside Brisbane/Coast, lol, if you are going to be in the area in that time let us know when!

Ted Branch

Tanya's reply, "I'm pretty happy to do whatever for another family reunion. The Bunya Mtns were great and we took the kids back there only last hols. Anyway, let me know what other ideas you get... Hope this helps and will be in touch!" Tanya also gave email addies for Michael, Jo and Jed so hope to hear from them soon! Further to Colleen's housekeeping, if you are not keen to join up to the blog please keep reading and email your comments through, we will post them up for you!

Housekeeping

Dear all

I too am enjoying this very much, but I have to point out that it was all Sandie's idea! I just got it up and running for her. On that note - please let Sandie or me know if someone in your family has not been invited to join the blog. We didn't have email addresses for everyone. Let us know with a direct email (not through here), and we can make amends.

Love Colleen

(PS In case you're wondering - the times are American!)

Woohoo!!

This is great!! I really like the idea of the weekend before or after the Terry branch's get together, Toowoomba or the Bunya's. This gives many options to everyone, to camp or to catch up on the weekend, let's Nadene get back and gives them time to settle a bit if we aim for April. Accommodation might be easier outside of Easter, then again maybe not with the school holidays, who knows. We will need to make a decision sooner than later so that we can book. Look forward to more chatting!! McCunion cracked me up... hehehehe.

Reunion

I am loving this so much! Thank you Colleen for this wonderful idea!

Yes, we are definately due a reunion. I would like to say that I will fit in with whatever the majority decides. We should be in our new house in Buderim by Easter so will offer it as a possibility. Love the idea of another Bunyas weekend though.

Ahem I think someone made a mistake earlier by suggesting that Denise had her 50th coming up? Surely not!

Hope everyone is happy and well. Must go as my naughty little baby (12 months in 2 weeks!) has decided he doesn't feel liks his afternoon sleep.

We would be very interested in coming. I missed the Bunyas - we had two year old twins and a six week old baby so we couldn't quite swing it then, but we are certainly up for it now. Easter would be good for us. Yolande

branch activity

Hi family

After discussion with Mum today I am checking in with a little branch info. This should really be from Denise but she's out of range right now (a bit like Christine!).

Denise has rounded up our family into a camping trip at Carnarvon Gorge (that's between Roma and Emerald) in the April school holidays, Mon 7 - Fri 11 April, to celebrate her 50th birthday. Mum managed to catch her on her mobile today, on her bike somewhere near Jandowae, and she has invited you all to join us. (Denise & Pete are currently on a nine day bike ride from Miles to Mooloolaba - tomorrow night they stay in Bell, and the next day ride through the Bunyas, so it's all very topical, not tropical.)

Next year Easter is March 21-24, and school holidays in Queensland are April 5-14, so they don't coincide, for the first time ever.

Eddie and Adelfa and the boys have holidays in April and will be down here from Mount Isa then, but not for Easter.

Proposition:
1. Join us at Carnarvon (www.takarakka.com.au)
2. Have something the weekend before or after our Carnarvon trip, maybe in Toowoomba (for those who can't come camping)
3. Do both!
4. Do something else

Obviously there won't be a magical date that suits everyone, but this is our two bob's worth. Andrew and I could make it for Easter, but not sure about my other siblings - no doubt they will weigh in with their own info.

Love Colleen

Dalby

Hello from Mount Isa. We are really just trying out Blogging, so that we know how easy it is ( or isn't ) to use. Have discussed the idea, and I am sure Colleen will have our thoughts on the site very soon.
Terry & Yvonne.

McCunion

Well I am v excited about the 2008 McCunion (McCoy Reunion) and am happy to help in anyway possible but am afraid I have no suggestions about where or when. xxxxxx

Continuing comments...

Was great to hear that you are thinking of a reunion - the Bunyas get my vote and around Easter next year would be good for Belinda & Craig and, of course, Nadine.

Look forward to hearing what everybody else thinks.
Love
Tricia

Comments to date!

Christine and I have often commented on and off over the last year about doing another "Colleen and Andy's" like afternoon. Christine is off on a cruise as we blog, good for her!!

Tanya recently visited Mum and Dad's with her fam and folks and was reminiscing on how great the Bunya's weekend was, so I thank her for prodding me finally into action. It has been exciting to see the instant responses though, as follows:

Maria emailed to say she loved the idea of the Bunya's again, "the mother-land" to quote her, lol. It is a beautiful spot so to count herself, Alan and Maureen in.

Nadine is coming back to Australia with her fam in March so would hope that we can get together after she returns as she has missed the last few catch ups, as have we her during her visits. I certainly agree, we should wait, nice way to induct her new fam into the McCoy clan, if but a tad daunting en masse, hehehe.

Paddy said "We are in Emerald in CQ on a little block out of town with a few horses and cattle, love it. Our place is available, nice and central, although since most of the family live in SE Qld, it’s easier for most if it’s down there somewhere. Country cousins get to travel again, but then, we’re used to it." Certainly something to consider Paddy and Jacqui! A brand new adventure might be on the cards for all! Be prepared! lol "Campbell is 8 now and Darceigh is almost 6," and if memory serves me correct Darceigh was a newborn at the Bunya's so that says how long it's been!

Another suggestion was to give people at least 6 months considering plans already in the pipelines for holidays and the like, good point! (Must say am not that organised myself, not a McCoy gene or one I did not inherit?)

Kathleen has offered "Of course, I am interested in another reunion - in fact I'd be quite happy to have it at my place anytime" so we have a Sunshine Coast option too!!

Has been wonderful to get such interest so quickly, look forward to hearing from more as time allows. Happy to continue to post your comments from emails in here!

Sandie's thoughts

Hi all and thank you thank you thank you to Colleen for setting up this blogspace, hope to see you all here! Below is a copy of my original email to jog some thoughts and I will post another entry with some of the comments to date!

Time has certainly flown passed quickly since our last get togethers, both at the Bunya Mountains about over 6 years ago, and the afternoon at Colleen and Andy's over 2 years ago. Many comments on what great times they were and whilst we always say let's not leave it so long again, the days creep on by into years. In the meantime a few of us have kept floating around some ideas through emails and would like to see if we can get something happening. Here are the thoughts to date!

Please pass on to other family members I do not have email addies for, especially great grandchildren.

Option 1.

* The Bunya's was such a great weekend, staying in the same place with time to catch up with everyone, plus the visits to the farm and local places of interests. Such a beautiful place, even in the middle of summer. We've done it once with success, why not again! Might need to do it in school holidays to enable travel, or keep with the Xmas -> New Year break, need to check what accommodation is available etc as well. So Boxing Day and the day after, or New Year's weekend, or Easter preferences?

Option 2.

* The afternoon at Colleen and Andy's was wonderful, everyone brought food and people could call in as they wanted. The number of people that came made us think that maybe a park area or the like might be better, save people's houses! Or maybe someone is willing to volunteer their place?? This time aiming to have it in Toowoomba for a change, plus to share around the travel, (Cairns is next... kidding!!!) If people want to stay for longer over a weekend or the like they can do so and catch up with more people. Suggestions included the Japanese or scented gardens, sorry not good on the names but will find out when needed. This option allows people to attend just for an arvo or for the weekend, whatever they choose. Again have to sort out dates, but am assuming either option will have the same time/date preferences.

Option 3.

* Your suggestion!!! Pass it on!!!


So that's for it for now! Ponder and pass on your ideas.

Look forward to hearing from anyone!

Love, hugs and honeyjumbles!

Sandie

who's out there?

Hi everyone

I am keen for a get-together, so let's use this piece of cyberspace to communicate! This is an experiment on my part, and I'm open to suggestion to streamline it. Let's start 'talking'!

Love from Colleen