LEMON TREE PASSAGE

FRIDAY 12.05.2017: Made it home without incident and proceeded to unpack the motorhome. Came across a poem that a chap had presented around the camp fire at Trangie - loved it.

 

GREEN AND GOLD MALARIA by Rupert McCall

 

The day would soon arrive when I could not ignore the rash,

I was obviously ill and so I called on Doctor Nash.

This standard consultation would adjudicate my fate,

I walked into his surgery and gave it to him straight:

'Doc, I wonder if you might explain this allergy of mine,

I get these pins and needles running up and down my spine.

From there, across my body, it will suddenly extend -

My neck will feel a shiver and the hairs will stand on end.

And then there is the symptom that only a man can fear -

A choking in the throat, and the crying of a tear.'

 

Well, the Doctor scratched his melon with a rather worried look.

His furrowed brow suggested that the news to come was crook.

'What is it Doc?' I motioned. 'Have I got a rare disease?

I'm man enough to cop it sweet, so give it to me, please.'

'I'm not too sure,' he answered, in a puzzled kind of way.

'You've got some kind of fever, but it's hard for me to say.

When is it that you feel this most peculiar condition?'

I thought for just a moment, then I gave him my position:

'I get it when I'm standing on Anzac Day parade,

And I get it when the anthem of our native land is played,

And I get it when Meninga makes a Kiwi-crunching run,

And when Border grits his teeth to score a really gutsy ton,

I got it back in '91 when Farr-Jones held the Cup,

And I got it when Japan was stormed by Better Loosen Up.

I get it when Banjo takes me down the Snowy River,

And Matilda sends me waltzing with a billy-boiling shiver.

It hit me hard when Sydney was awarded the Games,

And I get it when I see our farmers fighting for their names.

It flattened me when Bertrand raised the boxing kangaroo,

And when Perkins smashed the record, well, the rashes were true blue.

So tell me, Doc, I questioned. 'Am I really gonna die?'

 

He broke into a smile before he looked me in the eye.

As he fumbled with his stethoscope and pushed it out of reach,

He wiped away a tear and then gave me this stirring speech:

'From the beaches here in Queensland to the sweeping shores of Broome,

On the Harbour banks of Sydney where the waratah's in bloom.

From Uluru at sunset to the Mighty Tasman Sea,

In the Adelaide cathedrals, at the roaring MCG.

From the Great Australian Bight up to the Gulf of Carpentaria,

The medical profession call it "green and gold malaria".

But forget about the text books, son, the truth I shouldn't hide.

The rash that you've contracted here is "good old Aussie pride".

I'm afraid that you were born with it and one thing is for sure -

You'll die with it, young man, because there isn't any cure.'

JERRYS PLAINS

WED 10 - THURS 11.05.2017: Stopped for breakfast at Merriwa Rotary Park, then made our way to Jerrys Plains for the evening stay. Next day headed for one of our favourite overnight stops at Broke free camp.

CASSILIS - POPULATION: 346

TUESDAY 9.05.2017: Planned to stop at Elong Elong on our way to Cassilis. Carole's Father (Don Peel), had taught at a one teacher school at the start of his teaching career and we thought it would be interesting to see if the school was still there. W-E-L-L, who knew Elong Elong was such a small town. By the time we realised we were there we had passed it - onward to Cassilis!

There is evidence of the lastest bushfires all along the highway - not good. Arrived at the Cassilis Bowling Club which has been set up as the "BlazeAid" headquarters.

Obviously people are camping at the back of the club and if any resident requires assistance with fencing or any other issue, the volunteers provide their services. Stayed the evening ($10.00 for power/water), and visited the club once we had settled in. 

DUBBO

MONDAY 8.05.2017: We have commenced our leisurely trip homeward and decided that as we enjoyed the Red Earth Estate stop so much we would return. Must say it was just as relaxing the second time round.

PARKES - POPULATION: 15,337

SUNDAY 7.05.2017: First stop were the markets at Bogan Gate. Many have asked how the Leyland Sisters determine their travel route - of course it is based on television reception and the absolute necessity to watch "The Voice" and support from a distance, Lyn Bowtell! Left Trundle on a mission, first town to receive Channel 9 uninterrupted will be our overnight port of call. Drove the 60kms to Parkes, threw the aerial up and settled in for the evening at Currajong Rest Area. How G-O-O-D was Lyn!

TRUNDLE

SATURDAY 6.05.2017: ABBA day has dawned, but the weather is somewhat overcast. Will we, won't we take the ponchos, no shouldn't rain - HA! It was a good distance from Cubby's house to the main street so we did the s-l-o-w saunter up the road. Hit the markets - purchased great items for the garden. Minor detail, they all weighed a ton and it was only the start of the day. Second issue, the heavens opened! Okay, decision was made to return to the motorhome, download the purchases and of course pick up the ponchos!

Conquered the walk up and back, with wet weather gear in tow - for the record, it did not rain again all day! Met the ABBA train that travels from Sydney, through Forbes with the "die hards" dressed in their ABBA costumes. Trundle greets the train and each person that exits is given a huge ovation.

There were fashion shows, "Dancing With The Stars" performances, talent quests, street entertainment and the main street dance record. The aim was for 7,000 people in the main street.



BATHURST PANORAMA CHORUS



AMITIE



CUBBY, SHOOG, MARGY & LISA

 

STREET DANCE RECORD

Left the "Street Dance Record" early and headed for the local park - aim, to gain a seat and prime viewing position. Yes, we achieved both, second row, with what people referred to as "the pit" in front of us. The audience that wished to sit on the ground made their way to the pit and sat in front of us - life was good! We were early so had a fair wait and the pit kept filling. Concert time arrived and that was the last we saw of the stage! YEP, everyone in "the pit" stood and the best we saw were the backs of heads! The two acts that did perform, thanks to Internet photos were The Kransky Sisters and Bjorn Again.

The very weary ABBA groupies only stayed till interval and decided to make the final trek back to the comfort of the motorhome. Opened a bottle, put our feet up and listened to the second half of the concert.

TRUNDLE - POPULATION: 666

THURSDAY 4 - FRIDAY 5.05.2017: Trundle Lagoon Post Office opened on 1 May 1889 and was renamed Trundle in 1892. The town is noted for its unusually wide main street. At 60 metres, it is one of the widest main streets in the country. The Trundle Hotel also claims the second longest hotel balcony in NSW. The little town of Trundle certainly makes an effort to ensure its' future. Since 2006 the town has annually hosted a B&S Ball. In 2011, Trundle took part in "Country Town Rescue" for the ABC. Old farmhouses were rented out for a dollar per week to encourage new residents to the town. A TV documentary about the scheme was broadcast on 27 March 2012.

OVERFLOW AREA!

The town's annual festival called "Bush Tucker Day" is held every September, when Trundle's small population is usually increased 2 to 3 fold. The main event is a bush tucker cook off, where contestants strive to make the best tasting bush food. In 2012 the inaugural Trundle ABBA Festival (Australia's first dedicated ABBA festival), was held in the main street of Trundle, Trundle Memorial Hall, Trundle Hotel and Trundle Services Club in Forbes St, Trundle. In 2013, it won Event of the Year 2013 honours at the Parkes Shire Australia Day Awards, and features in the ABC Documentary "ABBA: Bang A Boomerang". The Showground fills with caravans and then the Racecourse is used as the overflow area - some 700 odd caravans!

CAROLE & CUBBY

We are staying with Cathy Pearsall (aka Cubby), we both know Cubby from our softball days many eons ago! Cubby has a menagerie of animals that have been rescued, donated and adopted - an alpaca, hens, roosters, ducks, cats etc, etc. Loved meeting all the animals.

TULLAMORE - POPULATION: 210

WED 3.05.2017: Tullamore is home to the Tullamore Irish Festival, which is held each Easter long weekend. Tullamore is the first town mentioned in the original (Australian) version of the song "I've Been Everywhere". We are slowly making our way to the ABBA Festival in Trundle and as Tullamore is only 40 kms away we thought we would spend the night at the showground ($10.00 unpowered). "Oh, you're lucky you're only staying for a night, we have 40 vans coming in tomorrow, you know the ABBA Festival is on!" Due to the amount of vans in Trundle the overflow group obviously stay at Tullamore.

ALBERT - POPULATION: 96

TUESDAY 2.05.2017: Onward to the Rabbit Trap Hotel (c1929), which allows free camping at the back of the pub. Found our 'spot' and then had lunch at the pub. Across the road from the pub a lovely park has been erected, with the pavers featuring residents that have lived in the area.

Next to the park John Owen's home has been restored to its' former glory. Unfortunately there was no accompanying history, but you assume he was a pioneering local.

TRANGIE - POPULATION: 849

SUNDAY 30.04 - MONDAY 1.05.2017: Carole had read that Trangie Caravan Park offered CMCA members with self-contained motorhomes a $10 a night stay. You are permitted access to the laundry, water and dump point. The dump point turned out to be the ultimate in luxury - a flushing toilet! Arrived at the park and Andrew the manager 'jumps out' to greet you - his enthusiasm is contagious. Interesting story - he and his wife Deb took early retirement, travelled for 2 years in a 5th Wheeler then Andrew grew bored with not working - Deb did not!

They purchased Trangie Park which had been derelict for 6 years, spent a year refurbishing and then reopened in 2015 and have been busy ever since. Andrew has taken the time to learn the local cotton farming process and has been accredited to run free tours of the Auscott Gin (Engine). He also takes great pleasure in stoking the camp fire, calling for happy hour and then presenting the precursor to the official tour.

THE 'MOON BUGGY'

The process in short - farmer sends in the cotton for processing and the Gin sends samples off to Sydney for quality assessment and packages the rest. Farmers are only allowed so many seeds and their output is checked according to their initial planting. The cotton is sold in the main to China through a stockbroker. Female Irish backpackers working 12 hour shifts were responsible for 'bagging' the processed cotton.