MT MEE NEWS June09
by Ian Wells
The season has turned, but we have never gone into winter in better shape. We have good grass reserves and plenty of surface water. The cattle around the Mountain are in wonderful condition – and there are whispers that international beef markets might be on the mend at last. If the A$ behaves itself a little better, the depressing local cattle prices might mend too!
There was a great turnout for the Anzac Day dawn service at the Lookout – probably over 300 people.
It was a moving and memorable service, with the Australian flag fluttering proudly from Cr Adrian Raedel’s sailing boat mast lashed to a handy fence post, with the numbers of beautiful floral wreaths laid around our own flourishing descendant of the Lone Pine, with the proceedings ably led by Neil Eiby of the Woodford RSL sub- branch and with the magnificent low level flypast of the two WW2 Chipmunk trainers which materialised out of the rising sun as the Last Post was sounding!
The Mt Mee Lookout is surely a spectacular dawn venue!
Plans are afoot to have our Lone Pine tree become the centrepiece of a small shrine to be the focus of Anzac remembrance services at the Lookout. Len Pedwell, Ross Smith, Andrew Jeays, Warren Oxlade and your writer will assist Neil Eiby in working up a design to take to Council.
At the hands of a small group of volunteers, the Mt Mee cemetery has undergone an amazing transformation over a few short weeks.
The new lawn cemetery area is now well established, the memorial gardens have been formed and almost six hundred donated native shrubs have been planted and mulched. This has been a great effort under the leadership of Rodney Eaton, and driven by those two formidable women, Deb Cook and Leigh Knight.
Feral or wild dogs (the terminology depends on whether you regard the rootstock dingos as native or introduced fauna) continue to harass cattle and, in one recent instance, to menace some residents.
The Hall meeting, held in late April between property owners and an array of officials from local and state governments, was very positive. We look forward to some very useful joint action involving crown lands and private owners.
Meanwhile, a small baiting program was run in late May by West Mt Mee property owners and Council.
The Mt Mee Hall Inc AGM was not well attended, perhaps because it clashed with Mr Swan’s annual budget statements, but it was good to have both Cr Raedel and Janelle Springall, the new Council facilities officer, present.
Cr Raedel gave a brief run down on recent Council decisions that could impact upon local residents – including a requirement that all cats be registered.
The election of officers proved to be a formality, with all incumbents returned – to the cheerful acclaim of those who dodged a guernsey!
An ordinary meeting followed the AGM, at which Committee decided to run a rock and roll dance night in July or August.
In contrast to the monthly dances, this aims to provide contemporary entertainment for the younger Mountain people – many of whom find it difficult to “get out” – and for the young at heart!
Woodford small business man Greg Henderson’s very polished group will provide the classic R&R sound with tunes mostly from the 60s and 70s. Committee plans to run a bar on the night to help slake the thirsts brought on by the activity.
If the idea proves popular, Committee may run three or four such nights each year, as an addition to the New Vogue/ Old time monthly dance program.
Bookings are strong for the St Lucia Orchestra concert on Sunday 14th June, but as I write there are still seats left. Phone Kay (5498 2194) or Joyce (5408 2270)
It was a moving and memorable service, with the Australian flag fluttering proudly from Cr Adrian Raedel’s sailing boat mast lashed to a handy fence post, with the numbers of beautiful floral wreaths laid around our own flourishing descendant of the Lone Pine, with the proceedings ably led by Neil Eiby of the Woodford RSL sub- branch and with the magnificent low level flypast of the two WW2 Chipmunk trainers which materialised out of the rising sun as the Last Post was sounding!
The Mt Mee Lookout is surely a spectacular dawn venue!
Plans are afoot to have our Lone Pine tree become the centrepiece of a small shrine to be the focus of Anzac remembrance services at the Lookout. Len Pedwell, Ross Smith, Andrew Jeays, Warren Oxlade and your writer will assist Neil Eiby in working up a design to take to Council.
At the hands of a small group of volunteers, the Mt Mee cemetery has undergone an amazing transformation over a few short weeks.
The new lawn cemetery area is now well established, the memorial gardens have been formed and almost six hundred donated native shrubs have been planted and mulched. This has been a great effort under the leadership of Rodney Eaton, and driven by those two formidable women, Deb Cook and Leigh Knight.
Feral or wild dogs (the terminology depends on whether you regard the rootstock dingos as native or introduced fauna) continue to harass cattle and, in one recent instance, to menace some residents.
The Hall meeting, held in late April between property owners and an array of officials from local and state governments, was very positive. We look forward to some very useful joint action involving crown lands and private owners.
Meanwhile, a small baiting program was run in late May by West Mt Mee property owners and Council.
The Mt Mee Hall Inc AGM was not well attended, perhaps because it clashed with Mr Swan’s annual budget statements, but it was good to have both Cr Raedel and Janelle Springall, the new Council facilities officer, present.
Cr Raedel gave a brief run down on recent Council decisions that could impact upon local residents – including a requirement that all cats be registered.
The election of officers proved to be a formality, with all incumbents returned – to the cheerful acclaim of those who dodged a guernsey!
An ordinary meeting followed the AGM, at which Committee decided to run a rock and roll dance night in July or August.
In contrast to the monthly dances, this aims to provide contemporary entertainment for the younger Mountain people – many of whom find it difficult to “get out” – and for the young at heart!
Woodford small business man Greg Henderson’s very polished group will provide the classic R&R sound with tunes mostly from the 60s and 70s. Committee plans to run a bar on the night to help slake the thirsts brought on by the activity.
If the idea proves popular, Committee may run three or four such nights each year, as an addition to the New Vogue/ Old time monthly dance program.
Bookings are strong for the St Lucia Orchestra concert on Sunday 14th June, but as I write there are still seats left. Phone Kay (5498 2194) or Joyce (5408 2270)
