A quick update from down under.

Have just completed the second stage of my TRANS OZ walk for ROSE- Meckering to Medderin as well as the chunk from Freemantle on the Indian Ocean to Perth.

The walking was good - with an improved cart - a Chariot Cheetah 2 - a big improvement over the 2004 equipnment albeit the tires need an upgrade - there is a particular type of low Aussie thornbush that punctures the tires with no conscience.
3 flats en route till I figured out what the culprit was. One more day in the next session will have me through the Wheat Belt and into the Ghastly Blank. Whilst I can move unsupported for most of the next section it is clear that I now have to work on the putting in place an upgraded support mechanism as the ghastly blank is just upon upon me.

Met a lot of good people en route - an Austrian bicycling from Kalgoorlie to Perth yielded a roadside chat and a contribution of $10 for ROSE. An inadvertent stop in a toy stoy in Merredin to pass some time waiting for a bus - yielded some more good people, a good chat and another $10 for ROSE. This and a more significant allocaiton will be transmitted to ROSE upon my return to Whitehorse later in September.

Just outside of Merredin I was overtaken by a mob of Brits - a lad Dave Cornthwaite who is skateboarding across Aussie - similiar route to moi, for three charities. He had his own personal massage therapist (girlfriend!), 3 support vehicles, a film maker and about 5 other support team members. He expects to be in Brisbane by xmas. We had a good roadside film session and later on in Merredin a few beer swapping information and encouragement. As a former graphic designer he even offered to do a web site for me if my daughter fades on that mission! A picture of "The Walking Man" is available on Dave's website along with a narrative comment on our meeting! www.boardfree.co.uk - gallery for pic and Dave's blog for narrative.

Today I took in the RC of Perth meeting and established some additional contacts and support for future years. On Sunday, I head east to Adelaide to meet with Rotary clubs there and then Melb and then Sydney before heading home on the `18th of September.

Before heading to Perth I stopped in at the Sydney Children\s hospital to see a 3 and 1/2 year old kid fighting luekemia - Matthew Brock. I had sent him three boxes of toys as a boost and needed to cap off the initiative by seeing him bedecked in a TEAM CANADA hockey jersey and ballcap. A spiderman figure which shoots water was seeing effective use on the nursing corps and young Matthew was grinning at the prospect of a surprise for his doctor (The Prof) - I met his mum and grandmum. A slight diversion from my main Aussie objective but one worth addressing because " In the End, Only Kindness Matters". I had a number of gold plated coins done up and they are proving to be very effective at raising awareness and commitment to the projects aims. Prior to leaving Canada I had been in contact with Steve Nash Foundation in Vancouver and they had committed to sending Matthew some appropriate Steve Nash autographed item.

I hope to forge a stronger relationship with that Foundation in the future to look at opportunities for mutual collaboration and support.

I am the charter club president for a new RC in Whitehorse - the RC of Whitehorse Entrepreneurs - to be chartered in October upon my return and this will be a useful vehicle to opening more doors and gaining more support for my ROSE related initiative.

From Down Under,

The Keeper of Australia Mt