Lighting the campfire!

Ever had a desire to just pack up the family and head off – to anywhere? Somewhere?  

I have, we have. So we did.
Our goal was to gather ideas and experiences so on our return home, we could combine forces with some of our extended family and create a lifestyle property of our own.
Create a place and offer experiences for others to come and enjoy some downtime, good clean country air and have fun with family and friends. A place for others to escape to but for us it would be home.

COVID definitely changed lots of things for many people. Our way of living, life as we know it, schooling and for many the way we earned an income. 

Even before the pandemic hit, my family and extended family had been discussing a tree change and exploring a different looking future that saw us cohabiting on much more land, where life was more simple and we pooled resources and shared expenses to give us all the space and lifestyle we craved. Where we could take care of each other and maximise quality family time. Our mission would be creating places and experiences for others to come and enjoy some downtime and good clean country air. A place for others to escape to but for us it would be home. 

Although we are luckier than most in that we have kept our jobs and maintained good health, through periods of lock down, home schooling and working from home we were able to confirm what we had been thinking. We do appreciate the simple things, we do love time together as a family and life can be taken just as quickly as it arrived so we must seize opportunities when we can. If we were ever going to bring to fruition our master plan, there was no better time or incentive to start the wheels turning than during a pandemic!

So who is this extended family I mention? 

There's my immediate family who set out on the 100 Campfire journey. Meet us on the ABOUT page.

The others....

My mum Teena. CEO of a Registered Training Organisation for over 12 years, passionate about family, food, entertaining and travel, now  working from home for RTO Advice Group as well supporting her RTO team, and marketing and helping manage both 100 Campfires and Yalbaroo Scenic Rim Retreat.

My Step Dad Ron. Semi-retired and working as a bus driver, he has been with my Mum for over 20 years and cherishes his family – both here and in NZ. A love of motorbikes and good quality scotch. 

Having traveled extensively around the world my Mum and Ron were eager to see more of this amazing planet but since COVID  are keen to settle into a somewhat slower pace of life and spend more time with family at home than at airports. Of course, joining the 'grey nomads' and visiting parts of Oz again and NZ is still on their radar. 

Then finally there’s Nanna, my Mums Mum. In her 80's and has lived with Mum and Ron for over 15 years after losing her beloved husband to Cancer.  Her family is her world and she has come from the land and longed to return – as long as family and her little dog are in tow. 

So that’s us! Call us a modern family or call us crazy. We stated the journey not knowing if this plan would ever fully unfold, or if we could make it happen, but on the 27th April 2021, it became our new reality and 100 Campfires later we found our own piece of paradise in the beautiful Scenic Rim called Yalbaroo. 

A family home with room to expand. 

A secluded retreat for those who like a little luxury and aren't as keen on camping.

A bubbling creek and rolling hills dotted with cattle.

A welcoming country community.

Plus.... the perfect setting to build our very own camp ground to share with others. 

The vision we have is a work in progress and now with Council approval we will keep on adding, changing and growing based on new ideas, feedback, time and opportunity.   

So, see you round the campfire for a beer and chat, Ben.