Deb Johnston from East Gippsland Regional Clinical School has recently returned from the trip of a lifetime. The main reason was to attend a birthday party, but there were many highlights on the way to and from the party. This is Deb’s story.

The spectacular Bogong High Plains in the Gippsland High Country was one of Deb’s favourite spots.

We left Bairnsdale on 18 October, destination Townsville by 9 November, with plans to return to work on 21 November.

Was this a carefully planned timetable to miss OSCE’s and exams and then return in time for student farewells? Many of my colleagues thought so, however, my (very good) excuse was that it was my son’s 21^st, and he’s in Townsville studying medicine with the opposition!

My husband and I had no set plans, just hook up the camper trailer and go, and we decided to head up via the coast and return inland. Weather wise we had one wet day in five weeks. Hottest temperature was St George, 41c at 9am. Coldest was Goulburn at just 4c at 5.30am.

The scenery, the animals, and the lifestyle were all fantastic. If it could be looked at we did so, and if it wasn’t on the tourist trail we went there. We relied on information from fellow campers for the great places to visit. Lovely beaches were Lennox Heads, Yamba, Seaforth, Hillsborough National Park, Dingo Beach, Hydeaway Bay, Alva Beach and Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island.

Inland my favourites were Carnarvon Gorge, Lightning Ridge, Parkes, Dubbo Zoo and Bogong High Plains in the Gippsland High Country, which goes to show that some of the prettiest places are in your own backyard.

All I can say now is bring on retirement! There is so much to see and do that we need to be out there seeing and doing it now!

By Deb Johnston

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 4th, 2012 at 10:47 am and is filed under East Gippsland RCS, Staff snippets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.