Down the garden path, literally
OKAY, it’s not nearly as cold as when I was growing up in Victoria where it was often pea soup foggy until 3pm then dark by 5.
But minus 7.1 at the airport one morning is a bit too cold for Dubbo.
I saw a photo of someone’s toilet that had frozen up.
I was ordered (I mean asked) to put a large storage container in the shed on the weekend and carrying it in front of me, I didn’t realise our garden path had turned into an ice-rink.
Luckily the bones in my arm aren’t as fragile as my ego and no, the only thing that’s broken is my pride – and the sensitivity of the ears for anyone living within 2 kilometres of my place.
In the meantime, if anyone has a set of training wheels I could borrow, please drop me a line.
THE state’s shadow agriculture minister Mick Veitch has delivered a very early Xmas present to Burrendong Arboretum.
As a vital resource which houses a treasure trove of seeds and plants from across Australia, the arboretum has struggled to attract much in the way of any state or federal funding in recent years.
Mr Veitch was very impressed with the facility and said it’s too important to let it wither and die.
“We’re committing $39,000 to the arboretum as they’ve asked for this money to look at things like weeds, we’re going to back that if we’re elected in March 2019,” Mr Veitch said.
“It’s like a museum, it’s like a repository for your historical library books, anywhere we can preserve things from the past is extremely important
“My grandkids will want to know what some of these things looked like, that’s very, very important to keep rare plants and seeds for future generations,” he said.
THERE are so many emerging community groups around town that it’s probably impossible to keep count, but one of the best onground results is being achieved by the Walan Warringah Women’s Group which has set up it’s base in a community garden they’re creating next to the Macquarie Street soccer ovals.
This week, they received a $2000 cheque from Interrelate CEO Patricia Occelli who said the funds were given because her onground people had identified this project as making a real and huge difference in the lives of so many local people.
Stay tuned for a full report in next week’s paper and some other exciting initiatives that are happening for this group.
MORE cash for the Wello Men’s Shed and it couldn’t go to a better bunch of blokes.
The Shed has scored $5150 from the Federal Government for two new reverse cycle air-conditioning units under the National Shed Development Program.
Federal Calare MP Andrew Gee congratulated the Men’s Shed for its successful application for the grant.
“Like similar sheds across Australia, the Wellington shed offers great benefits to any local men who need a bit of space and some friendly, easy-going company,” Mr Gee said.
“The Australian Government recognises these benefits and is providing a total of $5.1 million over three years to the national men’s sheds movement.
“Men are talking about their health more and more, and the men’s shed provides a safe and friendly environment for them to do so. Men’s sheds are integral to the community and the benefits to men’s health are widely acknowledged.”
In 2016, the rate of suicide among Australian males was more than three times that of females. OKAY, another week has gone and I know the NSW Blues won the 2018 State of Origin series but I still can’t get over the garbage refereeing decision in Game 3 – and that’s without mentioning Saint Billy Slater being named Man of the Series.
To pull off the feat he did, by winning that award only playing two games and not being the best on ground during any of them is an achievement that anyone who’s not a Queenslander could ever imagine.
Rigged, rigged, rigged from the start, just like Game 3 itself.
NSW lost so many Origin series in the past decade not only because we picked many wrong players, but because the refs and the NRL itself were obsessed with creating the Smith, Slater, Cronk and Maroons legends – because they think that’s good for the game.
All it does is make people turn away because it’s not real, it’s a fixed outcome – just like last Wednesday night, and just like Billy’s silly award. I’M attending a dinner on Monday evening and have pre-ordered three lamb cutlets for $22, that’s four bucks more than two lamb cutlets at $18.
A 300 gram scotch fillet steak is far more expensive although the way lamb prices are, I struggle to understand how that could be.
Look at this week’s Dubbo saleyards results, with a new record high price set in the city’s stock selling centre at $278 a head, well up on the previous $270.60 a head.
“The lambs were all over 77 kilograms live weight,” stock agent John Lindsay said.
Christie and Hood, Dubbo sold another line of extra heavy weights for $277/head.
IT’S great to see so many local organisations getting things happening for kids during the school holidays, and it’s probably more important from the view of the parents than the children.
Wellington’s Uniting Church is a case in point, with both Mondays these hols jampacked full of activities for primary school-aged children.
It’s the fourth year it’s happened I’VE had a bit to do with Narromine’s Ruth and Dick Carney and they don’t make humans much nicer than these people.
So I’m chuffed that Orana Arts is telling their story in a stage show titled A Little Piece of Heaven.
It’s the story of Auntie Ruth and Uncle Dick Carney, elders of the Narromine community, the couple telling their story in their own words and delivering a truly extraordinary untold tale of Aboriginal life in country NSW through the 20th century.
From humble beginnings on a campsite near Warren, the story moves through the western shearing sheds and the dances where Dick faces rejection and finds acceptance, to Narromine, where the shearer finds a home, a community, and enduring love.
In 55 years of marriage, Dick and Ruth Carney have been through loss and triumph, learned and grown together, and built a life that is a testament to their endurance, generosity, and love.
This extraordinary stage show is produced by an all-star creative team, coming together from regional and metropolitan areas: Paris Norton (Coonabarabran) and Michelle Hall (Nyngan) as co-producers, with John Harvey (Melbourne), Annie Mckinnon (Sydney), Alison Ross (Brisbane) and Sam Paine (Mudgee).
Two shows only: Narromine, Friday 27 July 8pm (United Services and Memorial Club) and Dubbo, Sunday 29 July 1pm (Black Box Theatre, WPCC). Tickets via facebook.com/oranaarts
Send your news tips to john.ryan@panscott.com.au or 0429 452 245 txt is best
Additional reporting by
News staff. Note: John Ryan is also a councillor on Dubbo Regional Council, and is also employed part-time by Landcare. He writes here in his capacity as a journalist.