Nov2010_MT MEE NEWS
By lan Wells
Well yes…… it has still been raining and the long range forecast is for more!
Kalahari Downs recorded almost 350 mm in the big rain event – much of it over a very short period. Others nearby report more!
The power of that water running down the gullies was devastating – cutting great holes and shifting boulders for hundreds of metres.
Nevertheless, we can count ourselves fortunate that for a change it gives us something to moan about other than drought! And for sure, those of us who are not dairy farming can rejoice to be avoiding that excruciating wet weather misery. I doubt that they make gumboots long enough to keep out the mud this year!
Surprisingly, cattle ticks seem a bit quiet so far this season, (although the paralysis ticks have been troublesome to dogs and people.) But there is grass grub about and I get the feeling that the grubs are poised to have a big year.
We are now well into that uncomfortable and uncontrollable downhill slide into Christmas, and the pace of end-of-year Mountain activities is accelerating.
The Sports Association, with its tennis court funding secure, has seen the job begin. The court is closed and, as I write, the existing concrete paving has been cut into sections ready for removal. No word is through yet on the installation of the washbasin at the toilet building though. C’mon Pres!
The remarkable job that our Rural Fire Brigade has done in funding and building the new training room will climax on the afternoon of Saturday 27th November with an official opening ceremony. This is not open to the public, but there will be an array of the most senior shiny bums imaginable attending from Head Office, together with the MLA from our neatest government held seat (Morayfield).
On a less esoteric plane there will also be invited representatives from other Rural Brigades and as many past and present members of our Brigade as can be mustered for the occasion.
The local Cemetery Committee has undertaken to cater for the afternoon tea as a fundraiser and there will be cucumber sandwiches in abundance. It will be a big afternoon, but as they say, that’s not all!
At 5pm that afternoon, after the official business has been wound up, the doors will open for the annual Brigade Open Day. This will give Mountain residents the opportunity to inspect the shed and the newly completed training room – (it was just a shell for the 2009 Open Day), to enjoy some home-made finger foods, to try their luck in the traditional giant raffle and even to enjoy a small libation.
All residents of the Mountain really should make the effort to visit the Open Day this year. It would be an appropriate mark of respect towards that tiny group of dedicated volunteers who not only fight fires to keep us safe and sound, but have put in such an incredible performance in fundraising and labour to provide the Mountain with this amazing facility. While it is primarily a training room for our Brigade, the space, the sound-proofing and the airconditioned comfort, the super audiovisual equipment and the profusion of communications gear make it an ideal local HQ for disaster management, exotic disease outbreaks and the like.
It is a tremendous community asset!
At the very same time that the Open Day begins, the annual community Carols Night organised by the Mountain Top Church will be kicking off in the Sports ground next door, with things beginning to move there too. As usual, there will be fast food galore prepared by the P&C available from about 5 p.m. and the packed program of entertainment – including performances by the pupils of Mt Mee School – will begin at about 6 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a rug, a chair and perhaps an umbrella. There will be plenty of parking in the grounds.
During just a few short hours respite overnight, we can rest and prepare for the Sunday afternoon Sunshine Coast Orchestra Prom Concert in the Hall. The SCO always does a very spirited performance at Mt Mee, and we will need all of our faculties to keep up with the action. Read more elsewhere in this edition – and take my advice on this matter and DON’T miss this concert!
Following the concert, we have a few minutes to regroup before crossing the road to the little Community Church for the traditional Carols service at 6.30 p.m.
And then that will be that! Just another relaxing weekend in the country!
Nevertheless, we can count ourselves fortunate that for a change it gives us something to moan about other than drought! And for sure, those of us who are not dairy farming can rejoice to be avoiding that excruciating wet weather misery. I doubt that they make gumboots long enough to keep out the mud this year!
Surprisingly, cattle ticks seem a bit quiet so far this season, (although the paralysis ticks have been troublesome to dogs and people.) But there is grass grub about and I get the feeling that the grubs are poised to have a big year.
We are now well into that uncomfortable and uncontrollable downhill slide into Christmas, and the pace of end-of-year Mountain activities is accelerating.
The Sports Association, with its tennis court funding secure, has seen the job begin. The court is closed and, as I write, the existing concrete paving has been cut into sections ready for removal. No word is through yet on the installation of the washbasin at the toilet building though. C’mon Pres!
The remarkable job that our Rural Fire Brigade has done in funding and building the new training room will climax on the afternoon of Saturday 27th November with an official opening ceremony. This is not open to the public, but there will be an array of the most senior shiny bums imaginable attending from Head Office, together with the MLA from our neatest government held seat (Morayfield).
On a less esoteric plane there will also be invited representatives from other Rural Brigades and as many past and present members of our Brigade as can be mustered for the occasion.
The local Cemetery Committee has undertaken to cater for the afternoon tea as a fundraiser and there will be cucumber sandwiches in abundance. It will be a big afternoon, but as they say, that’s not all!
At 5pm that afternoon, after the official business has been wound up, the doors will open for the annual Brigade Open Day. This will give Mountain residents the opportunity to inspect the shed and the newly completed training room – (it was just a shell for the 2009 Open Day), to enjoy some home-made finger foods, to try their luck in the traditional giant raffle and even to enjoy a small libation.
All residents of the Mountain really should make the effort to visit the Open Day this year. It would be an appropriate mark of respect towards that tiny group of dedicated volunteers who not only fight fires to keep us safe and sound, but have put in such an incredible performance in fundraising and labour to provide the Mountain with this amazing facility. While it is primarily a training room for our Brigade, the space, the sound-proofing and the airconditioned comfort, the super audiovisual equipment and the profusion of communications gear make it an ideal local HQ for disaster management, exotic disease outbreaks and the like.
It is a tremendous community asset!
At the very same time that the Open Day begins, the annual community Carols Night organised by the Mountain Top Church will be kicking off in the Sports ground next door, with things beginning to move there too. As usual, there will be fast food galore prepared by the P&C available from about 5 p.m. and the packed program of entertainment – including performances by the pupils of Mt Mee School – will begin at about 6 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a rug, a chair and perhaps an umbrella. There will be plenty of parking in the grounds.
During just a few short hours respite overnight, we can rest and prepare for the Sunday afternoon Sunshine Coast Orchestra Prom Concert in the Hall. The SCO always does a very spirited performance at Mt Mee, and we will need all of our faculties to keep up with the action. Read more elsewhere in this edition – and take my advice on this matter and DON’T miss this concert!
Following the concert, we have a few minutes to regroup before crossing the road to the little Community Church for the traditional Carols service at 6.30 p.m.
And then that will be that! Just another relaxing weekend in the country!
