After their 'time-out' Omar and Kay sent the following script with permission for publication in relation to their respite:
"We had a restful and reinvigorating four days at Laguna Quays Respite. It is on a quiet street and remote, 25 minutes to supermarket and 45 minutes to the tourist Airlie beach.
"With only Telstra 3 G reception, it meant no internet and mobile for Omar. Its relative isolation was conducive to disconnecting from our fast and pressured pace and lots of reading, reflection, praying and hearing Jesus.
"Because it was free from distractions, we were able to focus on each other and our marriage. It was pleasant to walk through the beautiful and expansive Laguna Quays Golf Resort. Omar explored the nearby banks of Repulse bay and appreciated the unique beauty of the mangroves, especially at high-tide.
"A local took him night fishing. A day of long drives through sugar plantations and farms and playing tourists visiting Shute Harbour, lookouts, Airlie Beach and the more secluded Dingo Beach and the friendly locals added to a refreshing break."
Opened in June 2011
Laguna Quays Respite was opened in June 2011 and already four mission couples have enjoyed time-out.
Well-Being Australia has designed the three bedroom self contained facility as a couples retreat with one of the single bedrooms set up with a desk and chair, the other bedroom is designed as a place to store items, and should a family visit, as has been one situation, those two single rooms are easily converted as they each have a single bed.
The two huge verandas, front and back are both covered. The front is where Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson sets up his portable office when he visits. There is a wheeled desk on which he places his lap top and a large monitor stored in the facility, and there is an all weather power point on the veranda.
The back veranda has a high attached aluminium roof which allows plenty of air flow with the on-shore breezes from the ocean (Repulse Bay) which can be seen through the palm trees. In addition there are two very comfortable lounge chairs in which to read or simply laze.
The Holden Rodeo dual cab is available to mission guests for local running. There is a driver who collects them from the airport, takes them grocery shopping in Proserpine when they arrive, returns them to the respite house and leaves the dual cab with them for local running. Omar and Kay went to Airlie Beach and surrounding tourist spots.
However there are no child restraint bolts or child seats so anyone with children under seven are required to hire a vehicle and should mission guests wish to go touring south into Mackay, west to the mines or north to Townsville, they too are required to hire a car. Mark Tronson explained that the respite facility is designed for respite, not as a hub for a touring experience.
Local co-ordinators Sean and Sue Spencer offer some local delights. Sean, who loves fishing and is good at it, is able to take 'one person' fishing in his tinny while Sue makes available a seat in her car for a Tuesday women's bible class and a Thursday craft class in Proserpine.
Sean and Sue Spencer have been of untold benefit to the respite facility, enjoying a cuppa with visiting mission people, looking to any odd-malfunctions at the facility and terrific local knowledge for picnics and site sightseeing.
Mission and church personnel on the front line are welcome to contact Well-Being Australia - timeout@bushorchestra.com or view the 'respite' web site www.bushorchestra.com
