Nov2012_MT MEE NEWS
Things are a bit dry on the Mountain! Since mid July there have been but two rain events as I write – each one yielding a miserable 13mm or so, each of which was blown away almost immediately. While kikuyu is staying green and even trying to shoot a little, anything else of value as stockfeed has just given up. The lantana looks well though!
The ‘dry’ has given us a great season for fires – there have been plenty, and they have mostly been ‘good burns’. But there has been a bit of concern in one or two cases because of neglect of one or more of the three essentials – namely:
– Asking for a permit to burn before lighting up, not afterwards.
– Notifying all neighbours who may be impacted on before lighting up, to avoid panic.
– Notifying Firecom before lighting up – to avoid having fire appliances dashing all over the mountain.
On a positive note, Mt Mee Rural Fire Brigade has received a substantial government grant to fund the installation of a solar power system on the fire shed roof. The cheque was handed over to the Brigade by local member Andrew Powell at a small function at the shed on Wednesday 10th October. Miraculously, the system was already operating!
Mountain roadsides have been a picture this spring, with a profusion of beautiful white flowerheads borne on the branching stems of a spindly bush growing up to 1.5m high. Those stems are soft when young, and they root where they touch the ground. This trick helps the plant to form a mass of pretty white blossom and green foliage that completely dominates all other plants.
Sadly, this gem is a pest variety of Eupatorium named “Crofton Weed”. While it prefers damp hillsides and creek banks it will very successfully invade paddocks. It will even colonise and take over kikuyu pastures!
So don’t on any account encourage it! Not only is its invasive habit a menace to pastures, it is very toxic to horses. It causes incurable lung damage – a syndrome known as “Tallebudgera Horse Disease” or “Numinbah Horse Sickness”, (depending on where you live.) And yes, like our old enemies Lantana, Green Cestrum, Mother of Millions and many other ‘nasty’ migrants, it was introduced by settlers as a garden plant. Fortunately, it is susceptible to a wide range of herbicides, (which it would be gratifying to see Council put to the test.)
Crofton Weed has probably done so well this spring because of the run of wetter than normal seasons, but it will persist now that it is so well established.
The “Three Day Sickness” season is due in Mountain cattle about now – it depends on some northerly breezes to drift the biting midge vector down our way. There have already been a few isolated instances of sick cattle showing the classic signs of “Three Day” without actually “going down”. That illness has persisted for a week or two and recovery has been slow. But these animals haven’t been sampled for laboratory confirmation.
By the time you have read this, the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra’s “Mt Mee’s Afternoon at the Proms” will probably be done and dusted. We are really looking forward to having that wonderful sound fill our Hall again, and to the performances of guest artists Sally Harrison and Ruby Valks.
And to the afternoon tea…….
Bookings are very strong and it is bound to be another sell-out.
The Mt Mee Spring Ball was a mixed bag – rewarding because those who came clearly enjoyed it very much, and disappointing because so many stayed away. Wine and cheese, a full supper and a five piece band were quite a juggling feat on an entry fee of $15.00, but we made it and they were all quality!
Although we targeted local residents very hard, few turned up. Hall Committee has therefore concluded sadly that dances are no longer events that our community is looking for. Sadly, because the history of our local dances would fill several books with delightful incidents – like the time an aspiring swain was evicted through a window! Hmmm.
And finally, I can report that with the warm fuzziness of the Savoyard Singers’ Mt Mee concert still in our bellies, my leader and I went to the parent Savoyard Musical Comedy Society performance of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes”, in the neat concert theatre at Iona College. With a huge cast, very professional direction and lighting, a well-schooled pit orchestra, brilliant singing and tap dancing and a typically endearing Cole Porter storyline and songs, it was a really top night.
I am continually astonished that there is so much talent in SE Queensland.
