Aug2012_MT MEE NEWS
By Ian Wells
The news from Mt Mee is that everyone has the dreaded lurgi. Even those with constitutions of the ox variety are reduced to whimpering in bed like puppies – and coughing to shake the termites out of the rafters! The usual haunts are deserted – there is hardly a soul about.
The news from Mt Mee is that everyone has the dreaded lurgi. Even those with constitutions of the ox variety are reduced to whimpering in bed like puppies – and coughing to shake the termites out of the rafters! The usual haunts are deserted – there is hardly a soul about.
More news is that the disappearance of La Nina has not followed the script. Far from turning on some fine winter weather, the gods are bringing rain, rain and more rain. The old joke of the laundry trolley being hopelessly bogged under the clothesline is not so far from the truth.
Otherwise, everything is terrific! There is cattle feed in abundance at a time when it is usually more than scarce and the creeks are running – fit to prevent mustering.
We spoke in the last edition about the copper status of livestock after the unprecedented succession of wet seasons. We treated ours here on Kalahari Downs about three weeks ago with the injectable glycinate and I do believe that they have picked up already. And there are no swellings at the injection site – probably thanks to sterilisation of the gear by boiling and taking care to deposit the dose just under the skin. There was some skin loss – but that was from my hand as I chased those unwilling necks through the rails of the crush!
There is an air of excitement about two events coming up in our Hall, firstly the “Brass, Sweat and Tears” concert on Sunday 29th of July –(to be “done and dusted” by the time you read this) and the Savoyard Singers concert “Broadway Showcase” on September 9th. This particular concert promises to be one of the best ever presented on the Mountain by the Singers. It is not to be missed – see elsewhere in this edition.
The other ‘coming event’ to prepare for is the Mt Mee Spring Ball on Saturday 29th September. This year the Ball will be themed “Back to the Settlers”. We are encouraging people to dig around for costumes relevant to the early days – from about 1880 when settlement first began to the mid 1920s, when the last big influx of settlers took up the Campbell Bros country in what is now Campbells Pocket. So there is plenty of room for choice! The best of the period costumes will attract prizes, but there will also be the usual prize for the best contemporary ball dress.
This will be a wine and cheese affair, plus some conventional supper. It will not be a New Vogue event as such, but will feature a mix of Old-Time, Modern, (including Latin –American) and R&R, with a smidgeon of New Vogue. So anyone at all can join in the fun on the floor!
With music by the inimitable Mike Woollett backed by some rare talent on reeds and rhythm, it is going to be a great night!
July’s “Country Music Night and Dance” was very successful, even though the crowd was well down on previous events. The “Lights on the Hill” did a great job – enhanced this year with a keyboard player and an extra vocalist. They picked good old tunes to play and their sound level was just right – well within the comfort zone.
Also in July, Kevin and Sabra Austin took the local school bus loaded with a bunch of ageing incorrigibles down to Cleveland to catch up with Cathy Croot and Les Suart. Cathy and Les had been forced to depart the Mountain late last year by health issues, and have resettled in a cosy duplex by the sea and near to the hospital. Happily, they both looked very well on the day. After hosting morning tea, Cathy took the group on a sightseeing tour – amongst other things visiting the remarkable Cleveland street market and the local Golden Circle food barn. As the passenger group staggered from the food barn to the bus under incredible loads of bargains, a colony of crows in a parking lot tree voiced astonishment in the exact manner immortalised by the late Graham Kennedy!
It was very good to see Les and Cathy, and they got a real buzz from the visit.
The next trip goes to Taromeo Station in September – Sabra has the details.
Otherwise, everything is terrific! There is cattle feed in abundance at a time when it is usually more than scarce and the creeks are running – fit to prevent mustering.
We spoke in the last edition about the copper status of livestock after the unprecedented succession of wet seasons. We treated ours here on Kalahari Downs about three weeks ago with the injectable glycinate and I do believe that they have picked up already. And there are no swellings at the injection site – probably thanks to sterilisation of the gear by boiling and taking care to deposit the dose just under the skin. There was some skin loss – but that was from my hand as I chased those unwilling necks through the rails of the crush!
There is an air of excitement about two events coming up in our Hall, firstly the “Brass, Sweat and Tears” concert on Sunday 29th of July –(to be “done and dusted” by the time you read this) and the Savoyard Singers concert “Broadway Showcase” on September 9th. This particular concert promises to be one of the best ever presented on the Mountain by the Singers. It is not to be missed – see elsewhere in this edition.
The other ‘coming event’ to prepare for is the Mt Mee Spring Ball on Saturday 29th September. This year the Ball will be themed “Back to the Settlers”. We are encouraging people to dig around for costumes relevant to the early days – from about 1880 when settlement first began to the mid 1920s, when the last big influx of settlers took up the Campbell Bros country in what is now Campbells Pocket. So there is plenty of room for choice! The best of the period costumes will attract prizes, but there will also be the usual prize for the best contemporary ball dress.
This will be a wine and cheese affair, plus some conventional supper. It will not be a New Vogue event as such, but will feature a mix of Old-Time, Modern, (including Latin –American) and R&R, with a smidgeon of New Vogue. So anyone at all can join in the fun on the floor!
With music by the inimitable Mike Woollett backed by some rare talent on reeds and rhythm, it is going to be a great night!
July’s “Country Music Night and Dance” was very successful, even though the crowd was well down on previous events. The “Lights on the Hill” did a great job – enhanced this year with a keyboard player and an extra vocalist. They picked good old tunes to play and their sound level was just right – well within the comfort zone.
Also in July, Kevin and Sabra Austin took the local school bus loaded with a bunch of ageing incorrigibles down to Cleveland to catch up with Cathy Croot and Les Suart. Cathy and Les had been forced to depart the Mountain late last year by health issues, and have resettled in a cosy duplex by the sea and near to the hospital. Happily, they both looked very well on the day. After hosting morning tea, Cathy took the group on a sightseeing tour – amongst other things visiting the remarkable Cleveland street market and the local Golden Circle food barn. As the passenger group staggered from the food barn to the bus under incredible loads of bargains, a colony of crows in a parking lot tree voiced astonishment in the exact manner immortalised by the late Graham Kennedy!
It was very good to see Les and Cathy, and they got a real buzz from the visit.
The next trip goes to Taromeo Station in September – Sabra has the details.
Finally – a thought for the month. Wife says to husband – “Just look at this – after all those years this still fits me perfectly” Husband replies “Yes dear, it certainly does. But remember, it is a scarf”
