Well here it is our blog for our 2014 adventure - the adventure down under in Australia. We, Sean, Krystin, Matthew and Kade Rennie, are heading to Australia for a year. The adventure starts before we actually get to where we will live. We are heading to New Zealand on Christmas day for a little family vacation then off to the east coast of Australia before settling in Falcon in Western Australia. We will be about an hour south of Perth on the Indian Ocean. So stay tuned as we plan to post often to keep our family and friends up to date on our adventure.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Departure of the ANZACS

This weekend we were in Albany to participate in the departure of the ANZACS Centenary.  One hundred years ago on November 1st, 1914 the first convoy of merchant and military ships carrying the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force headed out of Albany's King George Sound and into the First World War.  We also had a great visit with Karin and Mick and had the honour of being in the presence of our hosts father Eric Maxton and uncle Murray Maxton who on this weekend received France's highest military award for bravery - the two brothers were recognized for the role they played in helping liberate France from the Nazi occupation. The boys (and us) had the pleasure of hearing stories first hand from Eric and seeing his award. Made us very thankful for all the men and women that made huge sacrifices in WW I and WW II so that we could live the life of freedom that we have now - thank you.





Eric and Murray are in the jeep in the parade behind the boys.

the parade

Tony Abbott - Australian Prime Minister

Kade trying on some historical military clothing

This is King George Sound where the ships with troops left for WWI
to the right of Kade is a submarine and in the background are other military ships


close up of the submarine

The 30,000 represents the number of troops that left Albany in 1914
it is made of poppies


Kade checking out the submarine up close

Eric showing Sean and the boys his medals

The Maxton/Hilder family

Matthew, Eric and Kade

Eric's medals - the top award is the one he received this weekend
from the French Government

Lest we never forget
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Canadian Birthday Weekend

Well this weekend was Sean's birthday - not a milestone birthday but because we were are in Australia we had to do something fun.  Since 4 of the Canadians here in Australia on exchange had birthdays at the end of October (Molly and Sean share the same day the 25th and Carmen is the 26th and Art was the 12th) we decided to have an 70's 80's party. It was a fun night full of drinks, including Caesars, and dancing oh and some great costumes.




Sean, Cathy and Art

Sean had a costume change


Patrick and Sean


Disco Girls

The boys (Terry, Wayne & Sean)
nice short shorts Wayne

The Girls

Getting the Caesars ready (Matt & Sean)




Caroline & Terry

Matching hair





enough said




Ladies in Pink

The Canadian gang

The Birthday cake


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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Caversham Park

We have been planning to visit Caversham park since we arrived in Western Australia but once we found out that Jim was coming for a visit we decided to wait until he arrived.  Caversham Wildlife Park is just on the outskirts of Perth and is sort of like a zoo and has all native Australian animals allowing us to get up close to check them out.


Koala - don't you just want to hug her?

Matthew getting in for a picture

Grandpa wanted one too - the koala is checking him out





Australian Ringneck Parrot
aka - 28


Australian Masked Owl



A Cockatoo



Blue Winged Kookaburra
sitting in an old gum tree


there were some pretty cute animals there

nap time - this joey is just hanging out!!!

Kade feeding a kanga

Peacock - we watched her protect her water source and she
did this crazy dance shaking her feathers to keep the
kangaroos away

This is a wombat

Kade holding a snake

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A Whale of a Time

We spent some more time in the Yallingup area showing Jim around and we were extremely lucky to see a Southern Right Whale and her calf nice and close to the shore at Meelup beach.  We also saw lots of humpback whales during the week putting on a great show.  Amazing creatures.


talk about good timing - a whale and a nice boat in the same picture


A Southern Right Whale waving hello


Showing some tail




Southern Right Mother and calf


More whale entertainment


This is a humpback whale



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A Visitor From Home

Well we had a visitor from home for a couple of weeks. Sean's dad Jim (aka Grandpa) came for the second week of our holiday and then stayed on for another week.  We had a blast showing him our favourite places in Western Australia and exploring some new ones together.




Welcome to Australia

Sunset in Falcon

Top of Cape Naturalist Light House


Busselton Jetty

Enjoying a beer at Eagle Bay Brewery

Matthew and Grandpa at the Canal Rocks

Kade looking down from the top of Gloucester Tree at Sean and grandpa




On tour with Sean to the pinnacles

Grandpa watching the dolphins
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