WE, the National Crusader Caravan Family came together from all over Australia to your beautiful town of Broken Hill because we were invited by one of your very own Rickie Cooper and his band of merry men/ladies (Kaye Cooper, Kym Files, Sue Files, Peter Ormsby, Debbie Ormsby and Peter Coff) to share in the magic of Broken Hill.
Sixty-three Crusader Caravans set up camp for a week in the centre of the Broken Hill Events Centre Racetrack and we renamed it for the week to Crusaderville.
The hospitality awarded us by Barry King, Wayne and the committee of the Events Centre made our time with them feel just like home.
They were simply amazing hosts, a true reflection of the country spirit.
The people and businesses of Broken Hill warmly welcomed all of us, proudly sharing not only your history but all your amazing and mind blowing attractions.
Businesses such as but certainly not limited to RFDS Outback Heritage, Bells Milk Bar, Sculptures in the Living Desert, Gourmet Meats, Shannons Electrical, Broken Hill Pub, Speedboat Club Copi Hollow, Silver City Tours, Woolshed, Palace Hotel, City Heritage Walk are just a handful of the many, many, businesses/people that proudly shared their time and experiences.
We jumped on coaches and visited the neighbouring towns of Silverton and Menindee which complemented what was already an amazing experience for all of us.
Our story to you is one of sincere appreciation and thanks.
The people and businesses of Broken Hill proved over and over again that they proudly wear their heart on their sleeve.
We have never experienced such a wonderful rural town of only 17,000 people who go out of their way to make so many out-of-towners feel so very welcomed.
It was truly wonderful for all of us to spend our time (and money) in such a very proud little town out in the middle of nowhere that shares its time zone with another state yet openly honours proudly not only its history (and knows its history very well) but also honours its people of today.
To the people, businesses, Mayor Tom Kennedy and councillors of Broken Hill City Council and the surrounding areas, you should be very proud.
You gave all of us a massive cuddle, one we could never have imagined when we arrived.
You are all truly the heart of the Outback and for that we thank you.
We will be taking so many memories with us that we will treasure for a lifetime.
Visiting Broken Hill for all of us, the Crusader Caravan family has been an experience we will never forget, one we will hold in our hearts forever.
It was fun, it was exciting, it pulled on our heartstrings, it made us smile, it made us cry, but we felt we belonged.
Our Broken Hill stories around our nightly fires will go on for many years to come.
We ask that you please thank the people and businesses of Broken Hill on our behalf for sharing their heart.
We wish them all the very best for the future.
We hope to see them again one day soon.
Broken Hill, its landscape, its people truly are magical. Wow!
Fran Doyle
Hervey Bay, Queensland
