PRESS RELEASE:

PRESS RELEASE

 

J. Robert Allen Family Announces Their Return To The U.S.

 

After a four-year stint Down Under the Allens are coming ‘home’…

 

Black Rock, 9 May 2009:  Today a representative of the J. Robert Allen family has announced their plans to repatriate to the U.S.  Rob has accepted an offer for the position of Superintendent Accounting and Control for BHP Billiton’s New Mexico Coal operations in Farmington, New Mexico. 

The family is beginning preparations for the move sometime in late June or early July – the date yet to be finalized.  About the move, Kristin Allen, spokeswoman for the Allen family said, “We will miss Melbourne.  It’s been a wonderful place to live.  But we are excited about this prospect and look forward to being closer to family again.  This will be the closest we’ve lived since college.” 

Further details will be released as they become available.

 

 “Farmington...in the middle of nowhere, but not too far from somewhere.”

Lauren's 4x100 team from Brighton Beach won 1st place in the District Athletics Meet.  Now they will be going on to Zone in October.

WHAT ARE THE KIDS UP TO? - Megan

Megan started a ballet class and loves it.  She loves performing and showing us what she learns in class.  ( ex.  dip your toe in the puddle... take it out of the puddle and dance around the pond.) 

Justin

Justin focusing on his tennis lesson.

Justin started piano lessons this year and loves it.  I don't even have to remind him to practice.

Lauren

Lauren started Netball this year and is having a blast.  What's Netball?  Good question, I'm still trying to figure it out.  It's a popular girls sport, similar to basketball but no backboard, no dribbling and no moving with the ball.   

Lauren is still playing the violin and her teacher says she's a natural.  

Lauren went to her school Disco as Lola from Hannah Montana.  Two of her good friends are Julia and Laura.  

Ashley

Ashley's still playing the piano and doing great!  (Thanks Suzanne for starting her out!)

Ashley started on point shoes this year and isn't finding it too painful... at least not yet.

She has also started guitar lessons at school.  She's having fun learning to play and teaching her dad.  (Ashley's in her winter school uniform, it changes in summer.) 

Tasmania

Tasmania is around a 9 hour boat ride (or 1 hour flight) from Melbourne.  We decided to try out the boat.  We were able to bring the car on the boat also, which simplified the trip.  We boarded the boat around 7pm, stayed the night in tiny cabins, then arrived in the morning.

March 2008

We stayed one night at Cradle Mountain.  There were a lot of hiking options, but Megan, just turned 4 and is not really much of a hiker.

This stretch of beach is called the Bay of Fires.  It's on the southeast coast of Tasmania.  The sand was white and so fine, it squeaked when we walked on it.

Port Arthor used to be a prison.  The prisoners who continued to commit crimes after arriving in Australia were sent here.  It was meant to be a rough place, which is hard to imagine, because it is so beautiful!

We had to see the Tasmanian devils.  (A worker feeding them at a wildlife park).  

Rob's Ride in Torquay

March 2008

The Kids 1st Day of School 2008

Ashley started year 7 at Mentone Girls Secondary College.  It's an all girls school that goes from year 7 to 12.

The school year begins the end of January and ends the middle of December.  There are 3 two week breaks and 6 weeks for summer holidays at the end of the year.  (Megan - Kinder (or preschool), Justin - Grade 1,  Lauren - Grade 4,  Ashley - Grade 7).

Australian Open

January 2008

Family Picture

December 2007

Phillip Island

Some friends have a holiday house on Phillip Island (about 2 hours from Melbourne).  We stayed for a week and had fun seeing the wild animals ( a wallaby and an echidna) and finding other activities to keep us busy.  (September 2007)   

First Day of School

The kids 1st day of school.  (January 2007)

Rob's Bike Ride in Bright

January 2007

The Australian Open

January 2007

Brighton Beach

The bathing boxes at Brighton Beach are an icon in Melbourne.  They were built in the 1800's and used to change into bathers (swimsuits).  (December 2006)

The Allens at Los

Australia has a severe shortage of good Mexican food.   It was so good to get some yummy food and even better to spend time with Nonny and other family.  (November 2006)

The Smith's at the Zoo

After Houston, we went to Phoenix to spend some time with family.  It's always a good time with little ones at the zoo!

Friends in Houston

We went back to Houston in November to get all of our belongings shipped off to Australia.  It was great to see everyone!

Feeding the Roos

In Adelaide we also went to a wildlife park and fed the kangaroos.  

Adelaide (Southern Australia)

Rob was working in Adelaide for a week, so we thought we'd go along to have a look around.  Justin's favourite was the Shark Museum.

Hamilton Island

From Hamilton Island we took a boat about an hour and a half to the Great Barrier Reef.  We snorkeled and went on a submarine (that didn't completely submerge) to get a better view of  the ocean life.  It was beautiful!

I think this will go down as the kids favourite holiday.  On Hamilton Island everyone uses buggies (golf carts) to get around.  The kids thought this was the best part of the trip.  

The Koala Gallery on Hamilton Island was also a hit.  Ashley even got to hold one for a picture.

A day out at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

April 2006


Megan fell in a mud puddle and used her sweater as a skirt for the remainder of day.

In April our family went to Sovereign Hills. An outdoor Museum representing a town that boomed after the discovery of gold in 1851. We had fun checking out all of the sights and especially the underground replica of the mine. After the mine tour we rode on a small train out. Lauren was concerned it would feel like a roller coaster, but we made it out without any trouble.