Time to Roam Magazine Issue 3 - June/July 2013 | Page 40

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on the roam family touring

Darcy, Raine and their friend Archie from Ulladulla, NSW, racing along the beach at Hellfire Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.

until we tuck them in at night.
When Darcy asks to kick the footy or
Raine wants to play Barbies, we invariably
have the time and head space to join in.
We feel as if this trip has given us the
opportunity to get to really know our
kids better than we could at home, simply
because we have ample time to spare.
People often ask us about the kids’
schooling. They are enrolled in SIDE (School
of Isolated and Distance Education) through
the WA Education Department who send
us packages of schoolwork as we travel
about which are returned for marking once
complete. Admittedly, we are always behind
schedule (sorry Mrs Davitkovska), however
justify this by telling ourselves that the kids
are learning a number of things on the road
that could never be taught in a classroom.
At the time of writing we’re in Coffs
Harbour, taking a week’s R & R after our
first few months of fairly constant and
regular moving about. We are hoping to
follow the warm weather as we head north

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to Queensland and back over the top to WA,
where I am due to return to work in October.
Although we thought the old van might
raise a few eyebrows along the way, it has been
amazing the amount of interest we have had.
On an almost daily basis people are coming
up for a chat and have even had people taking
photos from the roadside as we drive on by.
Quite often it is the oldies that appreciate
her the most and we have heard many a
story of family holidays in old plywood
vans from a time when life was simpler.
The personal memories and emotions
the caravan evokes in others have
shown us how special she really is.
Our family has learnt a lot about
life on the road, and ourselves, as we
have undertaken this journey.
If I could presume to provide one bit of
advice to any young families out there it would
be this: if in the back of your mind you have a
dream of doing something similar, then it is up
to you to make it happen knowing that it may
take a certain level of sacrifice. An extended

road trip is not a sensible financial decision and
there is nothing to show at the end of the day
except a bunch of photos. Life on the road is at
times difficult and sometimes uncomfortable.
However, if you dream of driving on wide
open roads, hiking through rainforests,
cooking marshmallows with sticks over
camp fires and creating family memories and
bonds that will last many lifetimes, I would
highly recommend doing whatever you can
within your power to make it happen.
You don’t need the most expensive car or
caravan to do so and we have met many young
families doing their own version of the dream
in various levels of comfort, depending on
what they can afford. What you do need is
the will and motivation to make it happen.
To quote from Goethe:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you
can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power
and magic in it. Begin it now.”
See you on the road.
> continued page 42