Modlin Tours

We have been very fortunate to have Jess Smith (ex Northside student) and her boyfriend Colin (affectionately known as Phil by Belinda) come and visit and spend a week with us. Here are just a few photos of their trip, some highlights as they travel around this great land and some things you might do if you come and visit and choose to go on a Modlin tour. No photos, but Colin and Jess also spent 2 days at Yirara, visited the Reptile Centre, had food poisoning from the Erldunda Roadhouse, picked up colds from the Modlin family, visited the Todd Mall markets, saw someone try and steal a bottle of Bundaberg Rum from Woolworths and hung out in the mall and the various shops around Alice. A note, it is important to always go to the toilet before the drive around tour of Alice Springs...it takes longer than 5 minutes.


What better way to start Modlin tours than fly 3 and a half hours from Brisbane, jump in a Mitsubishi Challenger, have a 9 and 5 year old in the car with you, and drive 5 hours to Uluru. You get a driver who is willing to debate you on any topic, 2 boys begging their father to turn on the DVD, and hear the father tell his sons, "I know you are hungry, but you will not die!!!" The two young fellas obviously love having their photo...it only takes about 4 shots to get one that looks anything remotely "normal".

On a Modlin tour, depending on the time of year, you can get caught in a traffic jam at the Old Timers Fete, and fight off the old ladies trying to get their fill of cakes, scones and knitted teapot covers. Your female host, Belinda, obviously looks impressed about the whole adventure, and your 9 year old host, Kurtis, is wondering why he had to pay $2 to have a go of putting balls into the mouths of clowns and only win a 50c slinky, which incidentally was broken only a couple of hours later.

Be impressed by Uluru. You just have to learn to get the famous rock in the background and have your 5 year old host, Elijah, hold the camera steady. We won't say what he had to do in the bushes just to the left of Colin, we will keep that story for his 21st.

A great looking shot of your host of Modlin tours. Drinks and nibbles at sunset. Just make sure you keep your eyes on the 2 creatures who try to steal all the cheese, dip and crackers while you are having photos. Kurtis and Elijah that is, not dingoes.

Should I make a comment about this? I think that is Uluru in the background.

No Modlin tour is complete without a visit to a restaurant (Bluegrass Restaurant- an incredible platter of emu sausage, kangaroo steaks and lamb cutlets is recommended) and arrive back at the Hotel Modlin for a sickly rich chocolate fondue.

Yirara Student makes All Australian Team

Jake Neade has been selected in the National School Boys football team.

IT is amazing to think that Jake Neade nearly missed out on playing for the Northern Territory at the Australian School Boys Football Competition and the honours that would follow. Following a stand-out performance as part of the Desert Storm team, Neade, 15, missed his flight to Maroochydore.In a frantic hurry a second flight was organised for the talented West junior, ensuring he would compete in what would turn out to be a break-out event for the youngster.Neade was named in the Australian School Boys team after a series of dazzling displays.He said: "It feels great and I'm really proud to be named in the team.''The reserved youngster is a success on and off the field, a pioneer for Yirara students looking to finish high school.Coming from the township of Elliott, 200km north of Tennant Creek, Neade boards at Yirara College, where he attended school until year nine and is heavily involved in the Clontarf program.Deciding to continue with his studies Neade has transferred to Centralian Secondary College, becoming part of growing number of students involved in the Clontarf program at Yirara continuing their education.Clontarf associate director at Centralian College Sean Cusack said Neade and his fellow Yirara classmates have blazed a trail for more students from Clontarf to make the switch.He said: "We've got heaps of guys from Yirara coming through now doing secondary education, which didn't really happen before."Jake's one of the best kids in our academy. He's one of the best footballers in our academy. He gets his school work done, which is half the battle with some of these guys, and he's just a pleasure to have around the academy and school.''Even though he schools in town Neade is still a vital contributor to the Clontarf program at Yirara, still working with many of the younger students after school.Recreation officer at Yirara College Keith Durham said Neade plays a big role in helping the younger students develop and grow on and off the football field.He said: "He's a real leader out there. "He always shares the ball around with the younger kids making sure everyone gets a go."You can just tell he loves being out there.''A member of the PowerWater talent development squad, Neade has set his football goals high, hoping to become involved in the Territory Thunder under-16 and under-18 programs in years to come