Then to Mildura Arts Centre – saw the “Weaving the Waterways” exhibition. 

Net-making came to Glenda Nicholls from her ancestors in a vision and has inspired this exhibition of river-life, featuring baskets, ochre nets, scoop nets, fishing lines, hooks and bird nets. The works demonstrate a continuous and evolving link with techniques passed down through generations of Aboriginal women living in and around South-East Australian waterways. This photo is of intricate interlaced bird feathers, used particularly for bodily adornment.

The Arts Centre is adjacent to the magnificent Rio Vista Historic House, built for WB Chaffey and his family in 1892, designed in domestic Queen Anne style. It stayed a family home until 1950, at which time the house was purchased by the Mildura City Council for conversion into an art gallery. Chaffey was a US engineer and irrigation planner, and together with his brother, developed Mildura. (Australian Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin met them in the States and invited them to Australia). 

For the next 2 days, we chugged 58 kms from Mildura to Bottle Bend (and back) along the Murray, taking turns in steering our houseboat “Pure Indulgence”, under the tutelage of the ‘master’, Bill. We learnt to steer, adjusting for the currents and winds.

Splendid meals were prepared;  5 Crowns card game played at night; we watched a presentation of Trevor’s recent holiday in Italy and Malta; took photos of passing landscapes and wildlife; visited Trentham Estate winery for lunch. We woke to lovely sunrises and saw delightful sunsets…a rainbow even!

A lovely few days floating downstream in tremendous company.