Near and far — Jensen PLUS staff take a break in different corners of the globe
In May and June, Director Michael McKeown and Senior Landscape Architect Nina Phillips took time away from the office to spend with family and friends and reconnect with nature.
Port Lincoln road trip
Nina’s two daughters were participating in a gymnastics competition in Port Lincoln and so what better excuse to make a family holiday out of the long drive.
“Our accommodation was located up the hill which presented us with fantastic views of Port Lincoln,” says Nina.
“When the children weren’t taking part in the gymnastics competition, we enjoyed spending time outside and in nature.
“We enjoyed some walks around the Port Lincoln foreshore — the kids loved the playground!”
The family also had plenty of opportunity to explore the natural environment and local wildlife.
“The children really enjoyed a visit to the Glen-Forest Wildlife Park, which is about 20 minutes out of Port Lincoln, so much so that we ended up going there twice.
“It is a very interactive park with farm and native animals that you can get up and close with.”
National Parks were also high on the holiday to-do list.
“We visited Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln National Parks — the perfect opportunity to immerse in nature, refresh and restart.
“My favourite is the Coffin Bay National Park, but Memory Cove in the Port Lincoln National Park is also beautiful, secluded and serene.”
Much to the children’s delight, they saw plenty of wildlife in their natural habitats, including kangaroos and emus, and even dolphins! Nina says this was a highlight of the trip.
But of course, local fare is always a must!
“I enjoyed plenty of seafood — the mussel pot at the Boston Hotel was amazing and I highly recommend it the next time you find yourself in Port Lincoln.”
Scottish summer
Michael took a trip back to Scotland for a family wedding, managing visits to Edinburgh, Oban, Helensburgh and Glasgow — including a couple of nights camping in spectacular summer weather.
“The kids and I like to challenge ourselves with hillwalking when we visit Scotland and this year we had a fine day climbing Buachaille Etive Beag, high above Glen Coe.
“I also enjoyed exploring Helensburgh on the River Clyde, downstream from Glasgow. The town centre there is wonderful to walk around and has been well looked after. There’s a fine central square which is a focus for community life.”
Helensburgh is home to architect Charles Rennie MacIntosh’s ‘Hill House’, which Michael says is, “A bit of a masterpiece in modern art nouveau style”.
“Unfortunately, MacIntosh seemed to be more into the style than the practicality and the building has for years suffered from water penetration.
“So much so that a steel roof has been built over the entire building to protect it from the weather. This has to be seen to be believed, it’s quite an engineering structure.”
Michael and his family also visited the Fairfield shipbuilding museum in Govan.
“The museum sits on the edge of a still-operating shipyard, just through the wall from where BAE are building Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy, the same ship as is about to be built in Adelaide.
“With the UK’s subs in the Clyde as well, there more in common with SA than you think!”
The weather didn’t hold out for the whole trip.
“Glasgow was as rainy as ever but served as good preparation for returning to a southern winter.” Michael says.
