William Creek may only have a permanent population of six people and a dog, but it will soon increase to 15 for the first week of July, when Frontier Services Patrol Minister Paul Glazbrook brings a team of eight skilled Outback Links volunteers to town.

William Creek, on the Oodnadatta Track, is one of the most remote and isolated communities in Australia but is used as a vital community hub for stations in the area.

Among the Frontier Services volunteers are retired professionals – a painter, a plumber, a builder and a (not-yet-retired) electrician who are looking forward to helping out and using their skills to boost the community.

Leading the team is Paul Glazbrook, Parkin-Sturt Patrol Minister. Paul takes his work as a pastor to the remote parts of South Australia, and has visited William Creek before, recognising its importance to the surrounding spread-out community and for visitors on the lonely Oodnadatta Track.

Paul is “handy with a hammer” and will be working alongside the volunteers all week. The team will be making some much-needed repairs to the local bronco and gymkhana grounds. Paul met with the tiny community in March, developing a list of repairs and improvements.

The jobs list is extensive and volunteers will be installing a septic tank, demolishing and removing an old shower block, painting the new toilets, bar area, secretary’s office, seats and rails, making repairs to outdoor seating, changing lights from fluorescent to LED, welding bronco yards, plus a few other sundry jobs.

These improvements will be in time for the National Bronco Branding Championships which will be held in William Creek on August 26th, 2017. Competitors from Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia will be competing at the event.

Paul and most of the volunteers will be departing for William Creek from south of Adelaide and driving 1050 km over the weekend to arrive in time for a week of hard work. After which, they will make the long journey back home.

Paul will return for the Bronco Branding in August with his wife Robyn and another couple to run a BBQ ‘breakfast’ from 7.30 am to 4 pm during the competition.

Outback Links Spirits Raising trip to William Creek, 1-7 July, 2017.

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Paul (Glazzy Bush Pastor) will be writing about the trip in his blog: http://prglazbrook.blogspot.com.au/