A very busy year for everyone at our house, accelerating towards the end with preparations for Phillipa’s departure to the US, and for the annual IREE Radio Foundation Day Dinner.  Couldn’t Marconi have done his thing in October?  This year, we welcomed two litters of kittens and managed to breed a "rumpy" from a "stumpy", quite a feat in Manx circles.  So our house is full of children, visitors, friends and cats.

Kerry took on some short term contract work this year, and when not working kept busy with her machine and hand knitting clubs, and her spinning.  She delivered a paper at the Tasmanian Local History Conference in October.  Following the success of the knitting seminars she organised, Kerry has volunteered to manage the International Sock Competition for the Bothwell 2001 Spin In.  Kerry is also going to co-ordinate the Tasmanian Local History Conference in Sandy Bay for 2001.  A big trip round the world is planned for 2000, provided there is a little work around next year to pay for it.

Alex went in to 2nd Year Science at University this year, but has decided to switch to Arts, having done so much better in that component of his degree than the other subjects.  He works at Rockerfeller’s restaurant several shifts a week, and finds washing dishes a good incentive to complete his degree.  This year at soccer with Taroona, he took out the Best and Fairest Award, and plays regularly with the Seniors.  Summer school and another busy year await Alex.

Chris has finished Year 12 and after a year’s break, intends to do a Hospitality Management Diploma at Drysdale College.  He is hoping to do a bar course in the meantime and will be heading off to the mainland for a long working holiday.  Chris makes the desserts at Rockerfeller’s several shifts a week and surfs as often as possible.  He did well in his competitions this year and has found a sponsor for future events.  He gets regular mentions in the surfing mags.  Chris and Alex are looking for someone to pay them to play computer games.  Any takers?

Phillipa has had an outstandingly successful year in basketball.  As well as club and school teams, she has been playing with the Senior Women’s team, the Intensive Training Program and the Tasmanian State Under 16 team.  In the National Championships, Phillipa scored the best foul shot average in the country.  (that means she’s good at getting the ball through the hoop, not that she is good at fouling!)  She continues with the State Institute of Sport scholarship, and has been chosen as one of 14 Australian girls to attend a camp at the Institute of Sport in Canberra.  She is currently touring the US, playing against selected high schools in a friendly competition.  When she returns, she goes straight to Canberra, then on to Melbourne to check out an offer from a club there.  It’s not all basketball:  she played brilliantly in the school soccer team, did very well in her studies and looked drop-dead gorgeous at the school leaver’s dinner.  Well done, Phillipa.

Victoria is a great all rounder.  This year she played in the school soccer team with Phillipa, and went with the State lacrosse team to Perth for the Nationals.  She continues with the Conservatorium youth training orchestra, and is preparing for her 4th grade cello exams.  At the school speech night, she got an award for academic excellence.  She has been asked to join the stage band at Taroona High School next year, possibly playing bass guitar.  Victoria also plays the piano, makes pretty bead jewellery and cooks very well.  She had braces put on this year, and hopes that next year passes quickly so she can take them off!

Our Manx family grows!  Manoli and Missy have had 8 offspring this year, three of whom are staying with us, Ramsey, Bride and Babban.  We have one little tailed puss to give away and can recommend these cats as well behaved, well adjusted and better company than children. Naming them has us racing to find our map of the Isle of Man!  Which reminds me, whoever has our Road Atlas of Great Britain, can we have it back please?

David has been busy at work this year, as well as with his other activities. At work, he has had a major involvement in the revision of an Australian standard (AS/NZS 4117 Surge protective devices for telecommunications applications) and has designed two series of products, which are coming out of the factory right now. In 2000, he will be consulting with clients throughout Australia and Asia.

David is still involved in the local community association, and has taken on the role of president again. This year both he and Kerry were involved in a Planning Appeal Tribunal case where a developer (with the Council’s tacit agreement), tried to alienate public open space without the required public consultation. The proposed re-zoning of the public open space is open for public comment, and it is expected that the final outcome will be that over half of the original public open space will remain accessible to the public.

1999 was David’s second year as National President of the IREE.  He is also active on the IEAust Tasmania Division committee, and in the ITEES, both locally and nationally.  Again, David spent much of his free time in November and early December planning and organising Radio Foundation Day. The event this year was notable for the presence of His Excellency Sir Guy Green, Governor of Tasmania, and for successful communications with St Johns Newfoundland and Poldhu Cornwall by Morse code and email, receipt of a Morse code message by Aldis lamp across the Derwent River, and a very clear satellite phone call from Stuart Swan, on route from England to Australia via 777 Jumbo jet!

David is still involved with Morris Minors. At Easter, he and Kerry flew to Sydney, where they borrowed Scott Barraclough’s MM panel van, complete with Datsun 1400 engine, 5 speed gearbox, cruise control and 120L fuel tank for the journey to Dubbo for the 9th National Morris Minor Rally. This amazing van only needed fuel once - just before David returned it after nearly a week of country and city driving!!

David is now planning to go the 10th National Morris Minor Rally in Eildon, Victoria at Easter 2001. The 1954 2-door in the back yard will be the transport, so David’s big project for 2000 will be to commence (and complete!!!!) the restoration.

Now that Christopher has his driver’s licence, the temptation to purchase a car for him was too strong. So now David looks after his Mitsubishi van, Kerry’s blue Peugeot 504 sedan, the 1961 Morris Minor 4 door which Chris takes surfing, and a 1976 green Mini sedan, which has a 1275cc Cooper engine bored out to 1310cc and fitted with high compression pistons. Alexander is sometimes manages to prise Dad’s hands from the steering wheel long enough for him to drive it!!

With Christmas is nearly upon us, Kerry and David are busily planning their trip to the large island to the north to attend Kristi Fitzpatrick’s wedding, as well as to catch up with friends and relations. On our return, planning will commence for our 25th wedding anniversary, to be held on Saturday 5th February 2000. After that, the next big event will be the party of the Millenium - David’s 50th birthday on 19th February 2001.
 
We wish you all a happy new year, and look forward to celebrating the start of the new Millenium on 31 December 2000