May2013_So whats been happening

? 

by Ryle Winn

Do you know what I reckon we need in Dayboro … crocodiles.  Not those big salties with attitude but the little freshies that only give you a nip on the big toe. Let me explain. Some years ago we camped at Lawn Hill Gorge – NW of Mt Isa.  A magic place but also home at that time to a huge colony of bats.

And the best part was the dozens of freshies that lived under the bat colony further along the escarpment, way below.  As soon as a bat dropped down or dropped dead the freshies were onto it like a streak of lightning on a wet dog.  I say release a few crocs in Terror’s Creek because these bloody bats have taken up residence and are dropping dead all over our town.  Dogs try to eat them and kids poke at them.  First hand evidence.  It’s only time before something goes horribly wrong.  It did a month ago and a little boy lost his life as a result of a bat borne virus.  Premier Campbell Newman tells us that the Local Shire Council has the power to see to it.  I rest my case.

But I must tell you what happened one night in our stock camp on Curtis Island.  It was a wild, remote place then (not now):  20,000 acres inhabited by scrub cattle, hundreds of brumbies, wild pigs and dingoes, countless bats … and us.

The bats flapped in nightly into the date palm under which we had constructed a roof to house a caravan, living area and kitchen.  The roof caught our water.  One night, fed up with the screeching and the thought of bat shit in my tea, I decided to do something about it.  I had a single shot shotgun (this is 1993!) under the bed so I let a shot go into the darkness to scare them away. 

Bang! – and at my feet – Whump!  A bat landed … stone motherless dead.

The gun went somewhere else.  I stepped back and sat down heavily into a big box of horse shoes and cracked the back of my head on a wagon wheel that was propped up on the trunk of the date palm.  I reckon I got a bigger surprise than the bat … on second thoughts maybe not. 

That happened 20 years ago.  So now, when I go walking early most mornings I dream of taking the shotgun with me. But I won’t.  Not because it’s illegal but because I’m such a bloody awful shot. 

Another thing  The Dayboro Show is looming (6th and 7th July) and I’m the fundraiser for the Woodchops.  People hate fundraisers.  Well look out for me.  I can be persuasive. Seriously, for a tiny town we have a cracker of a programme (including a coveted State Championship).  Not many can boast that, and we’ve done it all ourselves.

So please give me a call and pledge a few bucks.  A couple of our bigger sponsors have dropped out and I’ve got one hell of job trying to make that up. 

Ph         34251247

Email    junkyard.dog@bigpond.com   

Web       www.RMWINN.com