Dying industry

This morning we started the day we a few domestic chores of washing the sheets before saying goodbye to our friends in the big bus as they were leaving.  We then headed off to check out Orange World but stopped in at a local market first just to check them out. 

Orange World is not on a grand scale like I thought, but if anything that made it all the more special and it was a great learning experience for all of us.  It is run by Mario and Marie who are fantastic and such wonderful hosts.  We were saddened by the fact we were the only ones on the tour, but in the end this worked to our benefit as we could ask whatever questions we wanted and I feel got a lot more out of it. 

Mario giving us the tour.

 

Hanging with a lemon and a pear.

Mario certainly did not sell the idea of going into growing oranges, and if anything, I think Orange World will soon be turning into Mandarin World.  They have 50 acres with over 10,000 trees.  They only get 15c per kilo of oranges, so they are moving into mandarins where they get $1 per kilo.  The amount of work that goes into running the farm!  Did you know that some oranges, even though ripe turn green to protect themselves, yet are okay to eat? 

Hamish making some orange juice.

 

The weirdest looking orange ever.  Apparently the zest is great for cooking,

however it is mainly used as offerings to the Budda's.

 

It was a great tour and at the end he let Hamish steer the tractor and he also got to put the oranges into the juicer for our fresh cups of orange juice.  I also couldn’t go past the home made orange and poppy seed cake – yum.

Yep, hold on Hamish is in control.

 

The smile says it all.

 

We then retreated back to the van for some lunch and a bit of a rest.  Kayla had a nap, and so did Jason, so it was perfect timing for me to open the chocolate dipped dried oranges and eat them.  We were going to go to the inland botanical gardens in the afternoon but Hamish fell asleep before we got there, so instead we went to a little suburb called Gol Gol to see how the people who have “made it” in Mildura live.  Let us just say there were some very impressive driveways (couldn’t really see the homes), so someone out here has made some good money, but obviously just not in oranges.

Kayla and I hanging out.

 

Jason and Hamish enjoying the tour.

Hamish spent the afternoon playing on the jumping pillow and hanging out with the kids from the sites next to us.  They were all a fair bit older them him but were very patient with him and let him join in.  Mind you he did get a bit upset when they played stacks on and he got a bit over confident and jumped in the middle (he was normally the last one on).  Though they were very apologetic, but it wasn’t their fault and he was back up there with them after a minute and a cuddle with Mum.  Then I had to pull out the bribe of sparklers to get him to leave them and come for a bath.