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 Robin Honeychurch was absolutely delighted recently when she heard news that her American friend, Sheri was planning to travel all the way to Australia, to meet her. Robin, who lives in Port Lincoln, South Australia, met Sheri Ables many months ago through the Internet chatline,ICQ (I seek you) and Robin said that "they just clicked". At the time, Robin wanted to talk to someone about cancer support and she met Sheri, who was caring for her husband who had a heart condition.
Robin and Sheri chatted online over the Internet every day as they had so much in common and had a lot of fun sharing, "absolutely everything". When they exchanged Christmas parcels, Robin sent information about her hometown of Port Lincoln and sent Australian products like Tim Tam biscuits, A Port Lincoln tee shirt, vegemite etc. Sheri posted a video to enable Robin to take a "tour" of their home in Pineville, Missouri where they live near the banks of a creek and manage a canoeing business. Robin also spoke to Sheri on the phone on Christmas Day and on her daughter's wedding day.
When Robin, who is suffering from breast cancer, was not well enough to use the computer, she relied on her daughter Alisa to send e-mail messages to Sheri. However, Sheri and her mother, Sharon Ochsenbein decided that they would like to fly from the United States to Port Lincoln to visit Robin. At first, Robin said that she "was numb with shock to think that someone would travel so far to meet me". She then waited with great excitement for the arrival of her "American family" in S.A.
Sheri and her mother, Sharon planned to leave Pineville, Missouri on Thursday, 6th April but this only gave them three weeks to make travel arrangements. Sheri, who has four children , needed to organise passports and family and business commitments. After a hectic time making arrangements, they travelled by road for eight hours and then caught six flights to get them from Missouri to Port Lincoln. Sheri and Sharon arrived lunchtime at the Port Lincoln airport on Saturday 8th April on a glorious Autumn day.
Robin said that she was so overcome with emotion that she couldn't speak when the two friends met for the first time, then there was much talking, laughing as well as tears. Sheri brought American chocolates with her to share with her friend, Robbie and they had an amusing time comparing American chocolates with Australian chockies. Robin said that she ate "heaps of chocolates." Friends also dropped into Robin's home to also share in the excitement of their visit and Sheri said that she enjoyed Port Lincoln immensely. Between visits to see Robin, Sheri enjoyed a trip along the rugged coastline of Whalers Wayt, met a friendly kangaroo and koala at a fauna park and browsed around in an antique shop, as Sheri manages an antique shop in Pineville.
Robin said their visit, "was just beautiful" and she is still talking about it. Despite the hectic arrangements and long journey, Sheri said she very much enjoyed her time in Port Linclon with Robin and her family. Recently, Sheri sent a long e-mail message from her hometown in Missouri and said that "it was wonderful to actually be there" with Robin and she sent "hugs and kisses to everyone in Port Lincoln".
Joy Broughton and Maxine Barker
Caring Cancer Support Group
PORT LINCOLN. S.A. 5606
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Robin Honeychurch 
