Greenough River

These pictures are of the Greenough River that runs through the flood plains around Geraldton, I have seen her in flood before, but have never been there to see the start; this river has not had water in it for over seven year.

S.M. Mac Arthur ©

Support a Great Cause LEGACY and an Inspirational Man SERGEANT MICHAEL LYDDIARD

Sergeant Michael Lyddiard will be attempting the Rottnest Channel Swim (19.7 km) on Saturday 26 February 2011 and he is seeking financial sponsors with all money raised going to Legacy.

Just over three years ago, on 2 November 2007, Sergeant Lyddiard, a bomb disposal expert, went to disarm an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and as he was approaching the IED it exploded. Sgt Lyddiard lost his lower right arm, right eye and two fingers off his other hand during the blast as well as suffering serious shrapnel and blast wounds to his face and legs and hearing loss.

Sergeant Michael Lyddiard and wife Katri

Just six weeks later he was back at work with his unit, the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, working in the operations cell and concentrating on explosive ordinance disposal trials. Since then he has undergone numerous bouts of surgery, from skin grafts on his face, fitting a glass eye, a lens and cornea transplant in his other eye, and fitting of a mechanical arm. He doesn't display any self-pity and has a humorous and philosophical outlook on life.

In July of last year Sergeant Michael Lyddiard marked another milestone in his recovery, finishing the 8 km Magnetic Island to Townsville swim in a time of 2 hours and 48 minutes.

Michael Lyddiard with Katri, Mason and Kyran.

Sergeant Michael Lyddiard is now in Perth training for the Rottnest Channel Swim on Saturday 26 February. Apart from the personal challenge of completing the swim he has also set himself the challenge of raising at least $10000 for Legacy to support the families of colleagues who didn't come home. To date he has raised $7710 and he needs your support to achieve his goal. His appeal for support is included below:

"Hello everyone,

I would like to ask for your support by visiting the unique web address below. Not only will you be supporting me but a Greater Cause! Everyone needs some form of inspiration; please pass this web address on to your friends and family.

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/michael_lyddiard

Thank you for your support.

UBIQUE - Follow the Sapper

Kindest regards,

Michael Lyddiard"

The Story of Two Very Different Sisters

Rachael

I got this from my sister Rachael today in the mail, it says a lot about the two of us, Hope you like as much as I do

Sue

The Story of Two Very Different Sisters

One is here, one lives there.

One is a little taller than the other.

Two different colours of hair,

Two different outlooks on life,

Two very different views from their windows.

Both have different tomorrows ahead.

Each is unique in so many ways.

Each has her own story, with all the busy things going on in the present.

Each has different work to do, and different demands on the day.

Each has a separate destination and a distinctly different path to get there.

But.....

For all the things that might be different and unique about them ...

These two sisters will always share so much.

They will always be the best of family and friends, entwined together, through all the days of their lives.

Their love will always be very special; gentle and joyful when it can be, strong and giving when it needs to be,

Reminding them no matter how different their stories turn out...

They share the incredibly precious gift of being “sisters”.

And when you think of some of the best things this world has to offer, a blessing like that is really... what it’s all about.

By

Laurel Atherton

The Bay on a Stormy Night January 2011