binna burra lodge

This is Rachel Allen with her best friend, he makes her happy.

Rachel was unfortunate 5 years ago to be bitten by a tick carrying Lyme Disease and her quality of life has been in decline ever since. There is no cure for Lyme Disease.

Rachel has been the Marketing Manager at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge in Queensland for over 8 years and I have worked with her on numerous photoshoots in that time. I have got to know a positive, outgoing woman but on my last trip there recently, she broke down in tears and said the Lyme Disease has ruined her life.

She also told me about an intensive four week treatment in Cypress which has been getting some positive results. Knowing that it still wouldn’t cure her but at least give her some quality of life back, Rachel was seriously considering going. The problem is the cost and the amount of money she has already had to spend on treatments, Doctors and Hospital visits.

I’m thinking my network here in South Australia wouldn’t know Rachel but it would be fabulous if I can help her by you helping her and donating what you can at ‘go fund me’ through the link below.

Thanks

Jennie

https://www.gofundme.com/rachels-treatment-for-lyme-disease

lisa_groom_001 — Lisa Groom ~ Photo by Jennie Groom © 2017

Yes, I am related to her, I’m proud to say!

Lisa Groom, like most of the descendants from Arthur Groom, (who co-founded Binna Burra Lodge, QLD) is creative, visionary and adventurous! To add to that, she also possess the qualities of a caring nature, the strength to survive a cancerous tumour in one of her fallopian tubes and the skills to run a successful business.

Lisa grew up living and breathing her parents business ‘interNATIONAL PARK tours’. As the name suggests, they run tours for small groups of people who like to ramble in nature, explore local food and culture in a sustainable way through National Parks and wild places around the world. Lisa’s first hurdle when she took over the business late in 2001, was the September 11 terrorist attack in New York, she had a group just about to travel there and it was a lesson in how to be flexible in the world of business and travel! Lisa is grateful for her 6 office staff and 17 tour guides, who helped to take over the running of the business and 29 tours while she was recovering from Cancer.

To keep her extra busy and connected to family history, Lisa has also been a Director on the Binna Burra Lodge Board for the past 8 years.

Lisa has always been an inspiration to me, especially when I visited in the school holidays as a child, she was fearless and grounded from growing up in the rainforest and I was too worried about snakes!

I find her life and world of tourism fascinating and visiting her this week was no expectation.

Lisa’s favourite quote is ….. Sometimes the path isn’t clear but it often leads to the best views!

http://www.parktours.com.au