Oct2012_MT MEE NEWS
By Ian Wells
It rained last night – nearly 2mm. It didn’t lay the dust, but it is the first precipitation here on Kalahari Downs since 19th July – two months ago to the day. Surprisingly, the cattle have held well and we still have a supply of rough feed, but it does want a drink to lift the protein content!
It rained last night – nearly 2mm. It didn’t lay the dust, but it is the first precipitation here on Kalahari Downs since 19th July – two months ago to the day. Surprisingly, the cattle have held well and we still have a supply of rough feed, but it does want a drink to lift the protein content!
The Spring Ball is looming very close as I write.
Traditional dance formats seem to have become the province of the elderly. They struggle these days against the competition of TV, the movies and the babysitter issue and the demands of modern breadwinning often leave little energy for frivolity.
So the primary aim of this Ball was an enjoyable night out for people of all ages, and the dancing aspect was not taken quite so seriously as in the past. By the time you read this, the experiment to make the event relevant to local residents will have either succeeded or failed.
The final Sunday concert for the year is on November 11th – from 2pm. And as usual for the November concert, it features the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra conducted by Adrian King in a programme entitled “An Afternoon at the Proms”.
See page 20 in this issue for more details.
Take note also that Mt Mee’s hall has been chosen for a fundraiser concert by the Stoney Ck Rural Fire Brigade. Organised by John Lynn of Woodford’s popular Thursday evening “Jam” sessions, this fully licensed night will feature a huge gathering of some 25 musos. The date is Saturday evening 27th October. Perhaps we should plan to hide the women and children!
Phone 0434 233 994 for information and bookings.
September saw the Savoyard Singers on the Mountain, with “Broadway Showcase”.
Your scribe was truly captivated by this concert – probably their best yet. The songs brought all sorts of nostalgic memories –(yes – he’s really that old), and the singers were in top form. The ‘new’ soprano Kathryn Warner is a real find. So is the guest artist, Matthew Mikkelsen – a truly accomplished guitarist whose work was reminiscent of the great George Golla. (I would love to hear Matt with Don Burrows!)
Matt played gently swinging blues with all of the skills of a classic guitarist, and with intriguing technology that allowed him to record what he was playing to the audience and then to seamlessly repeat and embellish it. The effect was of ten very agile fingers on his left hand, while the right hand picked out intricate rhythms and countering soaring melodies. Amazing stuff and beautiful listening!
Matt is a Brisbane Conservatorium graduate who has settled just up the road at Buderim. He is available (and keen) both as a teacher and for gigs.
September also saw the first round of the annual spring dog baiting – curiously, it coincided with a flurry of media interest in the peri-urban wild dog problem that featured a local resident!
This round was supported by a good turn-out of the local landholders who are able to meet the stringent rules of the Health Department and it was complemented by simultaneous baiting of the Delaneys Ck and Rocksburgh districts. This coordinated approach is working well and stock losses on the Mountain from dog worry have almost ceased. Fortunately too, we still have Len and Rod fit enough to bring retribution to the odd ‘bait shy’ dog and to clean up in the close lying areas that cannot be baited.
As flagged in the column last month, Kevin Austin has set up a steering committee to explore the prospects for a Mt Mee and District Museum. Kevin is chairman, Darcy Hewitt is his vice chairman, Roy Gillespie is secretary and Rowena Crouch drew the short straw to become research officer. Rowena is setting out to track down and list material that may be suitable for display and to track down a shed somewhere that might be borrowed for restoration or preparation work. Contact will be made with the Woodford museum re arranging a Mt Mee display in a small section there – as a first step.
Meanwhile, the Steering Committee will continue to search for a suitable venue for our own museum, and for ways and means of funding it.
Please contact Rowena (5498 2262) with any news of candidate display material languishing in sheds or under beds. She wants photos and she wants items – especially things relating to the early timber-getting and dairying families and industries. Wouldn’t an old cream separator and a set of vintage teat cups be a great start – plus a crosscut saw or two and perhaps a championship axe from the past? Note that ownership of these items needn’t be transferred – they will be exhibited ‘on loan from….’
Finally, many will know that old identity Tommy Thomason hasn’t been travelling well of late. He was hospitalised for some time and although he is now discharged, he remains in high level care at Kilcoy. He is reportedly in good spirits, but he was moved to tears by well wishes from locals and by acclamation at the Savoyard concert for his ninetieth birthday.
Traditional dance formats seem to have become the province of the elderly. They struggle these days against the competition of TV, the movies and the babysitter issue and the demands of modern breadwinning often leave little energy for frivolity.
So the primary aim of this Ball was an enjoyable night out for people of all ages, and the dancing aspect was not taken quite so seriously as in the past. By the time you read this, the experiment to make the event relevant to local residents will have either succeeded or failed.
The final Sunday concert for the year is on November 11th – from 2pm. And as usual for the November concert, it features the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra conducted by Adrian King in a programme entitled “An Afternoon at the Proms”.
See page 20 in this issue for more details.
Take note also that Mt Mee’s hall has been chosen for a fundraiser concert by the Stoney Ck Rural Fire Brigade. Organised by John Lynn of Woodford’s popular Thursday evening “Jam” sessions, this fully licensed night will feature a huge gathering of some 25 musos. The date is Saturday evening 27th October. Perhaps we should plan to hide the women and children!
Phone 0434 233 994 for information and bookings.
September saw the Savoyard Singers on the Mountain, with “Broadway Showcase”.
Your scribe was truly captivated by this concert – probably their best yet. The songs brought all sorts of nostalgic memories –(yes – he’s really that old), and the singers were in top form. The ‘new’ soprano Kathryn Warner is a real find. So is the guest artist, Matthew Mikkelsen – a truly accomplished guitarist whose work was reminiscent of the great George Golla. (I would love to hear Matt with Don Burrows!)
Matt played gently swinging blues with all of the skills of a classic guitarist, and with intriguing technology that allowed him to record what he was playing to the audience and then to seamlessly repeat and embellish it. The effect was of ten very agile fingers on his left hand, while the right hand picked out intricate rhythms and countering soaring melodies. Amazing stuff and beautiful listening!
Matt is a Brisbane Conservatorium graduate who has settled just up the road at Buderim. He is available (and keen) both as a teacher and for gigs.
September also saw the first round of the annual spring dog baiting – curiously, it coincided with a flurry of media interest in the peri-urban wild dog problem that featured a local resident!
This round was supported by a good turn-out of the local landholders who are able to meet the stringent rules of the Health Department and it was complemented by simultaneous baiting of the Delaneys Ck and Rocksburgh districts. This coordinated approach is working well and stock losses on the Mountain from dog worry have almost ceased. Fortunately too, we still have Len and Rod fit enough to bring retribution to the odd ‘bait shy’ dog and to clean up in the close lying areas that cannot be baited.
As flagged in the column last month, Kevin Austin has set up a steering committee to explore the prospects for a Mt Mee and District Museum. Kevin is chairman, Darcy Hewitt is his vice chairman, Roy Gillespie is secretary and Rowena Crouch drew the short straw to become research officer. Rowena is setting out to track down and list material that may be suitable for display and to track down a shed somewhere that might be borrowed for restoration or preparation work. Contact will be made with the Woodford museum re arranging a Mt Mee display in a small section there – as a first step.
Meanwhile, the Steering Committee will continue to search for a suitable venue for our own museum, and for ways and means of funding it.
Please contact Rowena (5498 2262) with any news of candidate display material languishing in sheds or under beds. She wants photos and she wants items – especially things relating to the early timber-getting and dairying families and industries. Wouldn’t an old cream separator and a set of vintage teat cups be a great start – plus a crosscut saw or two and perhaps a championship axe from the past? Note that ownership of these items needn’t be transferred – they will be exhibited ‘on loan from….’
Finally, many will know that old identity Tommy Thomason hasn’t been travelling well of late. He was hospitalised for some time and although he is now discharged, he remains in high level care at Kilcoy. He is reportedly in good spirits, but he was moved to tears by well wishes from locals and by acclamation at the Savoyard concert for his ninetieth birthday.
