Take Me Home Country Roads*

Someone asked me the other day what was my dream destination.

Easy Peasy. I have a thing about our country towns.

They are full of character and history and each and every one has a story to tell.

I visited a few on a short road trip last weekend. What these small rural townships generally have in common is a memorial to those fallen during the Boer and both World Wars. You don’t see many of the more recent conflicts on these memorials and I assume that as the world changed so did these small communities, some virtually disappearing as industries changed and the population moved closer to the cities.

Maclagan was surveyed in 1889. Twenty years ago it had a population of nearly 400. Ten years ago it had less than 200. It is interesting to note that so many of the early families lost more than one son during the war/s.

Just up the road is Cooyar, bustling with a population of nearly 250. The heritage listed ANZAC memorial was really stunning, surrounded by gardens, and the Cooyar Hotel, opened in 1903 saw a steady trade from travellers.

The parklands opposite the pub were also interesting in that in the early days this marked the spot of the local Memorial Hall, or community meeting place, which was swept away by floodwaters and killing two locals.

Maidenwell is another little village popular as a stop before the beautiful Bunya Mountains.  To be honest it was so unpleasantly hot I just quietly died under a shady tree with a refreshing  bevy. But thats what makes a good Queensland pub……

Lastly, Crows Nest, a thriving metropolis of 2000 only 40 kms out of Toowoomba, Queensland’s largest inland city. I have shared my visit here previously after a decadent stay at  Bunnyconnellan Guest House on a gorgeous olive grove.

I discovered somewhere new from this township’s past which I found fascinating:  Bullocky’s Rest Park which was originally used as a camp for bullock teams hauling timber from Cooyar to Toowoomba due to the availability of a fresh water supply. 

“A place to meet on the journey way

A place to rest at the close of day

Sharing a billy and a tale to tell

Midst the night time clanging of the ole bullock bell.”

I’ve visited an Art Gallery, an Antique Store and even bought raffle tickets to send kids from Boys Brigade to Canberra for a week.

Bali? No thanks.

*Apologies to John Denver

A – Z Challenge 2023

The Australian language or”lingo” has evolved from a melting pot of cultures over the past 245 years.

Within Australia accents vary slightly from state to state. For example, Queenslanders who were born in the state as opposed to “mexicans” from down south, tend to finish their sentence with ay. “The humidity has been oppressive, ay.” I remember moving to South Australia from thirty years living in Sydney, New South Wales, and being asked if I was from South Africa.

Some terms differ from state to state. “School cases” in New South Wales are “ports” in Queensland. Swimsuits can be “togs” or “cossies” depending where you live.

There is jargon associated with different occupations and activities, slang for different groups and some expressions that are considered fashionable and even trendy. “That’s how it is” and “Yeah nah”.

Some words and phrases have died out with previous generations. “Flaming galah” comes to mind (an idiot), as does the response when asked how you are feeling, “as crook as Rookwood”. Rookwood is the oldest, largest and most multicultural working cemetery in Australia.  (An aside: add to your Must Do List when travelling: the place has spectacular views and provides a social history beyond compare).

We also tend to be a lazy lot and shorten words by adding an O to the end. So if you are going to the service station for petrol you are going to the “servo” and the bottle shop for alcoholic beverages is the “bottleo”. Visiting relatives is visiting the “rellos”. You’ll get the hang of it……

Australians also seem to be proficient at sprouting both profanities and insults. I recently heard the son-in-law describing a woman as a “prawn” – nice body, shame about the head.  Awful, I know, but I did laugh. Many of our insults are tinged with humour.

I haven’t come up with a format yet but be prepared for some fair dinkum convo come April. See you round like a rissole.

Should I or Shouldn’t I?

The A-Z Blogging Challenge commences on the 1st of April and I’m contemplating whether or not to participate. For those unfamiliar with this Challenge the idea is to select a theme and then every day of the month except Sunday post something pertaining to the topic starting with A on Day 1, proceeding right through the alphabet to Z.

It’s not as easy as it sounds. Regular posts are a challenge in themselves, at least for me, and you need to have a theme that retains interest.

Last year I celebrated some powerful Australian women, women who have achieved in so many different ways. This year I’m thinking a subject less heavy, more fun, though preferably still promoting Australia.

I’m still in contact with some of the bloggers from last years Challenge and talk about a diverse range of interests. I gained an education in folk stories, crystals, music, country towns and dogs all because I became involved.

Here’s a quick poll. If I participate what do you think would be the more interesting topic?

1. Errol Flynn Facts and Fiction
2. Australian Slang and Colloquialisms
3. Australian Authors
4. Australian Movies
5. Forget it. Stay in bed for the whole of April

Curlews on Vulture Street by Darryl Jones

GAIA READING CHALLENGE

Darryl Jones is a Professor of Ecology at Griffith University in Brisbane. He has been researching the ways that people and wildlife interact in an urban environment for thirty odd years focusing on why some bird species are extremely successful in an urban landscape, whilst others less so. He describes his book as ” a memoir of an urban ecologist”  beginning his story by revisiting his childhood in rural New South Wales.

I found this an interesting read on two levels. Firstly, his investigation findings about magpies, lorikeets, ibis and crows – all familiar to urban Brisbane where I reside – are fascinating. Don’t get me started on the sex lives of brush (scrub) turkeys!

Secondly, its not that long ago when the house was full of teenage angst caused by not knowing where life was headed after High School. It was a repeat cycle from 40 years previous when it was entrenched that the Higher School Certificate was the “be all, end all”. This memoir is a reminder that life generally falls into place.

It was not that long ago that feeding birds in the back garden was considered a big No No. Neighbours reported local residents to Council for doing so. Since then, the public has been advised by ecologists the right and wrong way to interact with local wildlife, such as planting native trees and providing the correct foodstuff. It has been estimated that one in four houses in Brisbane has a bird feeder of sorts in the back yard. Research has shown that people genuinely like interaction with the wildlife in their neighbourhood but also see it as a form of atonement ie making up for humanity’s destruction of the natural environment. ( Interesting concept to think about?)

Guilty as charged…….

Incidentally, the title “Curlews on Vulture Street” relates to an incident where the good Professor was pulled up by a police person for holding up traffic in inner city Brisbane whilst awaiting for a Stone Curlew with chicks to cross busy Vulture Street. 

Well worth the read although I’ll never look at a scrub turkey in quite the same way.

Ripples

Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” – Dalai Lama

In a recent post I shared how a girlfriend, along with many other volunteers, helped our wildlife after the 2020 bushfires by knitting and sewing temporary homes for our creatures until the shrubs and trees regrew to a state that enabled them to provide adequate shelter and food. See Tippy and Jellybean.

I failed Home Economics at High School and the antique Singer sewing machine, in fine working order, that was gifted to me by my mother was put to use as a garden ornament, though I did finance a couple of balls of bamboo wool for the cause.

Yesterday, I purchased a Date and Walnut Roll from a street corner stall run by volunteers from the local Cancer Council. Staffed by no-one under the age of 75 years (a conservative estimate) the cake cook admitted that she was “tired” having cooked some 300 cakes throughout the year to raise funds for Cancer patients with hands-on assistance programs. They also sew children’s clothing; another Christmas present for the Little Person. Yay!

A craft minded girlfriend sent information this week about a group she recently joined called Capes4Kids that sew super hero capes for kiddies undergoing major treatment in hospital. Yet another in downsizing mode gave me a bag of material which I passed on to a local group of retired women who sew new pyjamas for kiddies being removed from their homes for safety reasons by Community Services.

Lismore, in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, gained international media attention earlier this year after it literally drowned under flood waters. A few months later  Lismore went under again and to this day there remains much speculation as to whether to rebuild or not. It remains a regional city fighting for its survival with many residents left with nothing. Whilst Governments organise financial assistance packages another friend with a creative bent shares that she joined a movement, Hearts For Lismore,  to remind Lismore residents that Australians across the nation had their backs by sending ” hearts of love and hope”. Many residences have painted hearts, fabric hearts, or even mosaic hearts courtesy of my friend, displayed proudly on what is left of their properties.

https://www.facebook.com/heartsforlismore/

” I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa

With the Christmas Season hot on our heels I will be busy preparing meals to feed an army as well as reflecting on the little ripples that made up this year and pondering what mischief I can get myself into during the coming year. I wish you all a peaceful and safe holiday period, full of laughter and good books, and hope we all throw a pebble or two into the waters in 2023.

Love this! Sand bags put to good use after the recent floods on the Victorian border.

Tippy and Jellybean by Sophie Cunningham

In June 2020 I posted about a children’s book that was released only a few months after the bushfires that devastated the east coast of Australia earlier that year. I clearly remember watching the news on the television with my eldest daughter early on the morning of New Years Day seeing the communities of the far south coast of NSW and just across the Victorian border escaping the ravaging fires and congregating to the closest beaches.

Here’s a copy of my post:

“Firstly, a new children’s book: Tippy and Jellybean by Sophie Cunningham.

Based on the true story of Tippy the koala, and her baby, Jellybean, which was one of the tales that broke hearts all around Australia during our devastating bushfires last summer.

Tippy was found by rescuers in the Snowy River National Park just after the fires raged through the area with a burnt back and paws. She was crouched over her joey, Jellybean, who was unscathed.

Sadly, many of our koalas were lost when they made the mistake of scrambling for the top tree branches when fires went through, offering them absolutely no protection whatsoever.

Tippy and Jellybean have since recovered and have been released back to an area with eucalyptus trees.

Proceeds from this book will raise money for the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.“

Meet the real Tippy and Jellybean

I was lucky enough to come across a copy of this book at a recent Warehouse Sale and my immediate reaction was that two year old Harry would love this story, with its beautiful illustrations by Anil Tortop of a selection of cute and cuddly Australian animals.

Guess what? Harry is missing out. I can’t part with it; it’s such a heart rending story and a reminder of all the good that came out of that disaster, as is so often the case.

Tippy and Jellybean were rescued along with many other creatures that survived the fires and were taken to Rescue Shelters where veterinarians and volunteers saw to their medical needs, primarily attention to burns and dehydration.

Volunteers supplied fresh Eucalypt leaves from neighbouring properties for Koala feed and Tippy and Jellybean regained their strength in the Sanctuary until well enough to fend for themselves in the wild.

I love this illustration as it is such a reminder of those days as well as all the good that there is in people. (Sometimes it seems so easy to forget, doesn’t it ?) Fruit and vegetables being left out for wombats, possums and kangaroos, and all the handcrafted nests knitted for wildlife and birds. I remember shopping for a special wool for a girlfriend who attended a Workshop on creating nests for critters. She was busy knitting for weeks as were so many others.

Lastly, a reminder that despite the bushfires, nature returns to provide both food and a home for the animals.

Sorry, Harry.

Yes, I know I said I was done for the Gaia Challenge but I just couldn’t resist.

Change of Seasons

Spring slipped right by us and this week we ran screaming into Summer. Ceiling fans and salads are the order of the day once again. Sadly, this means that some of the projects I planned aren’t going to happen because of the heat.

The pumpkins are loving all the sunshine and have taken over my minuscule lawn. While they are producing I don’t mind but as soon as they stop they will be culled. Too good a place for snakes to hide. Project 1 successfully completed: blade of snake decapitator sharpened.

Project 2 : completed my James Bond jigsaw puzzle. Purchased in Tasmania during my August travels it has been calming when the news on the tv proved overly distressing (which is most of the time).

A DIY Lazy Susan project for Pocahontas for Christmas. The base is a coffee table top I purchased for $10 from the hardware store with $6 spent on the turn table. Bargain! The condiments I purchase to go with it will undoubtably be costly.

Project 4 is a work-in- progress. A gift for the Little Person. Just turned two he refuses to go by the name of Harrison. “No MeeMaw, it’s just Harry”.

I love art. Used to buy a piece every Wedding Anniversary – which I duly lost in the divorce. Have absolutely zilch artistic ability but I love colour. It makes me feel good and it hugs the spirit. Treated myself to a couple of hours painting ceramics during the week. Lots of colour added to a serving platter. My last one chipped after five glasses of champagne. Lets be clear : the platter didn’t consume the plonk, I did. Currently being fired. Touch wood for a successful conclusion to Project 5.

Project 6 required propagating plants for seeds. I now have 20 chilli seedlings and four mandavillas.

Project 7 : Epic Fail. First Guest Bedroom is stripped and sugar soaped. I lack the energy in this heat to continue

Project 8 : Christmas Shopping done and dusted. I live by the mantra ” No shopping centres come November”.

Two carloads from the garage have been taken to the Tip. Did not bring back any Frangipani cuttings for potting. Yay!

Project 10: Clear up a myth.
When the girls recently suggested going to the flicks to see Ticket To Paradise apparently one was supposed to get all giggles over the prospect of George Clooney. Ridiculous I know – I have Errol Flynn on movie posters all around my house ( which in hindsight may have contributed to the divorce). Anyway, George Clooney…………my father would call him “soapy”. I would say as boring as bat shite. Clooney and Julia Roberts are supposed to be in Bali stopping their daughter’s wedding. It’s a Furphy; filmed in Queensland. Ex-Clu-Sive Qld where rumour has it ol’ George’s twins were not accepted into certain venues.

Yep, Queensland; Winter one day and Summer the next.

Alfresco dining is very summer but you have to fight the midgies……….

Big Things.

The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, was Australia’s first “Big Thing”. Built in 1964 it still stands proudly on the highway in front of what was once a large banana plantation and which now doubles as a tourist attraction promoting oddly enough, bananas.

Australia has over 230 “Big Things” all across the country. They are generally on major roads, kitsch, and butt ugly. We have a Big Prawn, Big Lawnmower, Big Orange and Big Rocking Chair. Personally, I don’t get the attraction though many holidaymakers arrange their journeys around these tourist traps. 

A selection of our BIG THINGS. Hideous, aren’t they?

The first time I saw the Big Banana wasn’t until the early 1990’s with my own children.  Knowing we were in for a long car trip and attempting to stop a war from breaking out  in the back seat I kept both daughters bouyed with the wonder of the Big Banana. Can I tell you how appalled I was to arrive in sleepy little Coffs only to find the cover (or skin) of the banana away at the dry cleaners. Try explaining that to Little People.

I was reminded of this following my recent travels to Far North Queensland where everything seemed to be Big. The Big Cane Toad in Sarina, The Big Snake in Ayr, The Big Mango which looked like it had been hit by a truck in some little town along the way, and my favourite, The Big Opened Sardine Can at Home Hill. No explanation for that one, sorry.

I wasn’t even aware of these Big Things until I was an adult. As a child the only large object I had witnessed was The Big Potato at Robertson on the way down the South Coast and you would never have guessed that the huge brown lump sitting in a paddock was a spud.

So why?

According to one source, “Big Things have become something of a cult phenomenon and are sometimes used as an excuse for a road trip where many or all big things are visited and used as a backdrop to a group photograph. Many of the big things are considered works of folk art and have been heritage-listed, though others have come under threat of demolition.” Sayonara Captain Cook in Cairns.

I’m not a fan of Big Things though I think this is in part because I was traumatised as a teenager after having spotted an army truck full of young soldiers urinating on The Big Golden Guitar at Tamworth, Australia’s country music capital.

Not so traumatised that I wasn’t excited showing 18 month old Harry The Big Crab in Cardwell.

Does your part of the world suffer from Big Things too? Do you have a favourite?

Brothers N Books

Back in 2020 Captain Dylan Conway from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) spent 14 months virtually bedridden following surgery.

“As a means of keeping his mind occupied, Captain Conway read more than 100 books on self-development, from recounts of combat operations and philosophy to stories of perseverance in times of extreme hardship.”

This was the beginning of Conway’s initiative, Brothers N Books, which was initially aimed via Instagram at other Defence personnel, first responders and anyone else facing challenges.

As Brothers N Books gained momentum Conway started receiving donations of books for people in need. This has since grown to the charitable organisation setting up 15 free community libraries filled with uplifting books across Australia – and growing – with funds raised from the sale of merchandise.

Conway states that “The same way that diet, working out and socialising assist in living a happy, healthy life, reading books can also contribute to your overall wellness and health.”

According to the Brothers N Books website ( go here: https://brothersnbooks.com/)

their Mission is to :

• Make reading cool
• Create community libraries across Australia
• Promote reading as a means of therapy, personal growth and success
• Recommend books that change lives in the hopes of changing someone else’s

Conway has since returned to work and has most recently been involved with the ADF’s Flood Assist Operation in northern New South Wales.

Captain Conway, you are a gem, Sir !

Wattle

Wattle Day has been celebrated on the first day of September each year since 1992, the official start of the Australian Spring. Prior to this, each State acknowledged the day at separate times depending on when the Acacias were in full bloom in that territory.

During my childhood growing up on a quarter acre block surrounded by suburban bushland Wattle Day was celebrated on the 1st of August, sharing the day with Horses’ Birthday. This meant wearing a sprig of Cootamundra Wattle, which flourished in Sydney, to Primary school on that day which seemed such a special event all those years ago.

I read something from our First Nations people (Dance of the Plants) about Wattle this morning which made my heart sing:

“GARRON( Wattle) season is upon us. But if you believe in a little magic then you must listen to my Elders and my late Auntie Lennah♥️ a senior Bunurong Elder, she told us that we were never to bring GARRON into the house. It was to be hung on the door, outside the house, where it would keep the bad spirits away. If you bought it inside then you would get bad luck. The GARRON is a very important plant to Bunurong people, not only for food and medicine but also for bush dye, wood and a thousand other things.Enjoy the sunshine it brings right now as GARRON tells us the season is turning, soon it will be PAREIP(Spring).”

I have always loved Wattle. I have always lived with Wattle. Here’s one I planted as a sapling in the koala corridor that my house backs on to (to replace the palm trees that some idiot planted and which are not native to the area).

Some Wattle Trivia:
( courtesy of https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/golden-wattle-11-facts-about-australias-national-flower/).

-Australia was only federated as a nation in 1901, so its World War I efforts were integral to the formation of a national identity, and the golden wattle played a significant symbolic role. Wattle flowers were sold to raise money during the war, it became tradition to send pressed wattles in letters to wounded soldiers in Europe, and fallen diggers were often buried with a sprig of wattle.

-The flag might be red, white and blue but Australian sporting teams have been wearing green and gold on their uniforms since the late 1800s. The hues were officially recognised as Australia’s national colours in 1984 and these days you won’t spot a national sporting team decked out in anything other than green and gold. It even earns a mention in the cricket team’s victory song: “Under the Southern Cross I stand, a sprig of wattle in my hand, a native of my native land, Australia you f***ing beauty!”

-The designs of the Order of Australia medal (the highest honour an Australian civilian can receive), the National Emergency Medal and countless Australian Defence Force honours are based on the golden wattle. The national flower is also a common motif in works by iconic Australian artists Albert Namatjira, Sidney Nolan and John Olsen, as well as pieces like Banjo Paterson’s 1915 poem We’re All Australians Now, and John Williamson’s song Cootamundra Wattle.

– A sprig of wattle has appeared on the official symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia since 1912 … but it’s botanically incorrect. Wattle frames the kangaroo, emu and shield representing the country’s six states, but technically the spherical flowers and green leaves don’t provide an accurate depiction of the acacia. Ssssssh. Keep that one to yourself.

-Koalas can supplement their diets with Wattle if they are short on Eucalypts ( or aren’t too lazy).