Our first stop was at Abermain. We were going to stop at a bush camp near the Kuri Kuri showground’s but when we saw it we decided against staying. It seemed very open to anyone and we were a little bit concerned about leaving our van so we moved on to the bowling club. The Abermain Bowling club has a massive grass area behind the parking area of the club. It is open as well but with people coming and going for the club all the time we did feel safer leaving the van.

We paid for one night ($5) and went off to have a look around. The town has a lovely park and play area that caught our eye.

We stopped for a walk but it wasn’t too long before Adrian found a seat and I continued on. They had an old fashioned cricket pitch with a white picket fence around it. We are heading off to England soon and it was like a touch of England before we flew out.

 Ducks has taken advantage of the river that runs thought the park. For a few meters I walked along the bank watching them.   The ducks kept an eye on me as well, for some reason I don’t think they were very impressed with me.

After about 10 minutes I made my way back to Adrian. It seem the rest did him a world of good as when we were walking back to the car past the playground his inner child took over.

It was lovely to see the playground had a wheelchair swing. It is the only playground I have seen with one.

We decried to stay another night at the bowling club so we could head off to Kurri Kurri to see the murals the town is well know for.

A quick visit to the information center was required to get a map. The paintings are scattered around the town with most being along the Main Street. We were looking at our map and trying to find our bearings when a lady offered us help and told us where to go. We were then on our way.

The first mural was painted in 1988 as part of the Tidy Towns competitions. (The town won the overall ‘State Award’ for 1993) As we were looking at the painting a man came up to us and said, “You can fined the Kookaburra easy in that one.” We agreed not knowing what he was referring to as the mural was of 3 kookaburras. It was after he had walked off and I read the information plaque I realised what he was referring to. The Kookaburra is synonymous with Kurri Kurri and each mural features one. Sometimes the bird is easy to spot other times you will need to go looking for it. We didn’t always finds the birds in the other paintings but we did spot all three of them in the first mural.

The murals reflect on the way of life once lived in the town. From a bachelor seeking a wife, to one of the local pipe band and some of the old business in the town and a lot more.

Probably the mural with the most impact is the one illustrating the invasion at Anzac Cove. It shows the First Infantry Battalion, the regiment held many of the Kurri Kurri men. The mural reflects on one of the many battles of the Anzacs, establishing the legend we now hold so dear.

It wasn’t long before Adrian decided he had had enough. We crossed the road and walked thought a park area that divides the traffic in the main street. We encountered the painted toilet block. We walked around the mural looking for and discovering the kookaburras.

But that wasn’t the best part of the park area. Off to the side, so you can see it from the road, stands the ‘Big Kookaburras’.   I guess it is a good time to tell you I like kookaburras. Side note; I was in England several year ago and I had gone to visit the London Zoo. There was a display of animals and they brought out a kookaburra. It sat quietly on its perch as the zoo man talked. I couldn’t resist and let out a kookaburras cry. Of course the bird answered me so I gave it another call and received another answer. Everyone was watching me. When all the ruckus died down the zoo man said “it seems we have an Aussie in the audience.” I thought it was funny; don’t know if anyone else thought so.