Apr12_MT MEE NEWS
By Ian Wells
Apologies for the non-appearance of Mt Mee news in the last edition of the Grapevine. The text was apparently intercepted while in transit through the ether – perhaps by the Herald Angels wanting new material for their songbook!
Apologies for the non-appearance of Mt Mee news in the last edition of the Grapevine. The text was apparently intercepted while in transit through the ether – perhaps by the Herald Angels wanting new material for their songbook!
The weather gods evidently took umbrage at the mention of a dry spell in a recent column – it seems that it hasn’t stopped raining since! Fortunately though, it has been minimally destructive here on Kalahari Downs – unlike last January’s effort!
History repeats itself of course and while we have lots of grass and our cattle are in great order, the money on offer for finished jap ox is a bit disappointing.
Readers will be relieved to learn that after a quiet post holiday period, there isn’t much Mt Mee news to relate. This is a brief effort!
Most will know that there was a strong turn-out to a memorial morning tea held in the Hall for Melva Eiser during February. The Eisers farmed for many years in Sellin Road on country now owned by the Pickering family, and they were very active in Mountain community affairs before moving off the Mountain in their retirement.
Likewise, there was a strong turn-out for the funeral of Rita Beanland, held in the Hall mid March. Rita was wife of the late Arch Beanland, son of the legendary “Major” of the Mountain’s early days. After working the family property in Hausmann Rd for some years, Rita and Arch moved to farm at Bald Knob – near Maleny, before retiring to Glasshouse.
There was a good turn-out too to the “Putty Party” working bee held at the Hall to apply finishing touches to the new deck. Not only were nailholes stopped, but sundry other long-standing jobs around the Hall were addressed. Councillor Adrian joined a handful of locals to put in an arduous but rewarding morning. And no-one accepted the offered cooling ale when work was done. Spoilsports!
The February meeting of the Mt Mee Public Hall Committee took note of the requests of those stall-holders at the February markets who were overwhelmed by pangs of hunger before the kitchen opened for breakfast business. Some of these people travel long distances after very early starts. Committee in future will open the kitchen – for cooked breakfasts only – from 7am, with normal operations still beginning from 7.30am.
The meeting also resolved to have handrails installed alongside the step between the hall and stage floors at the road end of the Hall. Many people find this particular step a little threatening to negotiate. As I write, local fabricator Tony Hewitt is returning post haste from Nashville Tennessee to assess that situation as a matter of urgency.
Now to events coming up for our Mountain.
Firstly, we have the long awaited Rock and Roll Night in the Hall on April 14th – which is the weekend following the Easter break. You will have read about this elswhere, suffice it to say here that it will feature great music from Greg Henderson’s band “Stone Lane”, great entertainment from Elvis Parsley himself, a great bar and some great dancing. Not much more needs be said – book now, Kay 5498 2104 or Joyce 5498 2270! Space is limited!!
This will be followed on May 27th by the first of our Sunday concert series for 2012 – featuring the ever – popular St Lucia Orchestra. We are taking bookings for this event now too – because it will be a sell-out!
ANZAC Day falls between these events – on April 25th to be precise. The programme for the Sunrise Service at the Dahmongah Look-Out has been jointly planned this year by the Woodford RSL sub-branch and a group of Mt Mee residents. Remember that the service begins with military precision at 6am sharp and that it will be followed immediately by the traditional hot “Gunfire Breakfast” prepared on site by workers from the Mountain Top Church. The charge is nominal – and there will be a tot for issue to those needy souls with a vaguely naval background!
Kevin Austin (ph 5498 2282) is progressing his proposal for a small museum of historical Mt Mee artifacts – perhaps to be housed under the Hall. It was aired at the recent meeting of our Neighbourhood Watch.
As a very useful preliminary, the Mountain has been asked to put together a short term display for the Woodford Museum. The focus here will be on the Mountain’s early industries – timbergetting, timbermilling and dairying. So Kevin would be very grateful for the loan of pics, tools or equipment which could be displayed – they will be returned! We already have tracked some historic farm veterinary instruments and some log handling tools. There must be plenty more gear or photos sitting in sheds and cupboards. Please look – and phone Kevin about it.
Meanwhile, Hall Committee is very keen to find and copy any photographs depicting events at the Hall, or across the road at the Church, during the earlier years. If you can help, please contact Joyce/Leigh Knight on 5498 2270 or the writer (Ian/Kay) on 5498 2104.
Finally, Jake, the squire’s grandson, came home to the Mountain from western Queensland for a well – earned rest over Christmas. But no rest happened – Ron has worked him without mercy for 12 hours or more each day on a cattleyard project! Poor Jake – on the verge of breakdown, he had to sneak off for 3 or 4 days of unannounced lonely recuperation on the Gold Coast! He said that it was lonely anyway!
History repeats itself of course and while we have lots of grass and our cattle are in great order, the money on offer for finished jap ox is a bit disappointing.
Readers will be relieved to learn that after a quiet post holiday period, there isn’t much Mt Mee news to relate. This is a brief effort!
Most will know that there was a strong turn-out to a memorial morning tea held in the Hall for Melva Eiser during February. The Eisers farmed for many years in Sellin Road on country now owned by the Pickering family, and they were very active in Mountain community affairs before moving off the Mountain in their retirement.
Likewise, there was a strong turn-out for the funeral of Rita Beanland, held in the Hall mid March. Rita was wife of the late Arch Beanland, son of the legendary “Major” of the Mountain’s early days. After working the family property in Hausmann Rd for some years, Rita and Arch moved to farm at Bald Knob – near Maleny, before retiring to Glasshouse.
There was a good turn-out too to the “Putty Party” working bee held at the Hall to apply finishing touches to the new deck. Not only were nailholes stopped, but sundry other long-standing jobs around the Hall were addressed. Councillor Adrian joined a handful of locals to put in an arduous but rewarding morning. And no-one accepted the offered cooling ale when work was done. Spoilsports!
The February meeting of the Mt Mee Public Hall Committee took note of the requests of those stall-holders at the February markets who were overwhelmed by pangs of hunger before the kitchen opened for breakfast business. Some of these people travel long distances after very early starts. Committee in future will open the kitchen – for cooked breakfasts only – from 7am, with normal operations still beginning from 7.30am.
The meeting also resolved to have handrails installed alongside the step between the hall and stage floors at the road end of the Hall. Many people find this particular step a little threatening to negotiate. As I write, local fabricator Tony Hewitt is returning post haste from Nashville Tennessee to assess that situation as a matter of urgency.
Now to events coming up for our Mountain.
Firstly, we have the long awaited Rock and Roll Night in the Hall on April 14th – which is the weekend following the Easter break. You will have read about this elswhere, suffice it to say here that it will feature great music from Greg Henderson’s band “Stone Lane”, great entertainment from Elvis Parsley himself, a great bar and some great dancing. Not much more needs be said – book now, Kay 5498 2104 or Joyce 5498 2270! Space is limited!!
This will be followed on May 27th by the first of our Sunday concert series for 2012 – featuring the ever – popular St Lucia Orchestra. We are taking bookings for this event now too – because it will be a sell-out!
ANZAC Day falls between these events – on April 25th to be precise. The programme for the Sunrise Service at the Dahmongah Look-Out has been jointly planned this year by the Woodford RSL sub-branch and a group of Mt Mee residents. Remember that the service begins with military precision at 6am sharp and that it will be followed immediately by the traditional hot “Gunfire Breakfast” prepared on site by workers from the Mountain Top Church. The charge is nominal – and there will be a tot for issue to those needy souls with a vaguely naval background!
Kevin Austin (ph 5498 2282) is progressing his proposal for a small museum of historical Mt Mee artifacts – perhaps to be housed under the Hall. It was aired at the recent meeting of our Neighbourhood Watch.
As a very useful preliminary, the Mountain has been asked to put together a short term display for the Woodford Museum. The focus here will be on the Mountain’s early industries – timbergetting, timbermilling and dairying. So Kevin would be very grateful for the loan of pics, tools or equipment which could be displayed – they will be returned! We already have tracked some historic farm veterinary instruments and some log handling tools. There must be plenty more gear or photos sitting in sheds and cupboards. Please look – and phone Kevin about it.
Meanwhile, Hall Committee is very keen to find and copy any photographs depicting events at the Hall, or across the road at the Church, during the earlier years. If you can help, please contact Joyce/Leigh Knight on 5498 2270 or the writer (Ian/Kay) on 5498 2104.
Finally, Jake, the squire’s grandson, came home to the Mountain from western Queensland for a well – earned rest over Christmas. But no rest happened – Ron has worked him without mercy for 12 hours or more each day on a cattleyard project! Poor Jake – on the verge of breakdown, he had to sneak off for 3 or 4 days of unannounced lonely recuperation on the Gold Coast! He said that it was lonely anyway!
