Oct2014_Mt Mee Ramblings
By Ian Wells
At this time last month we looked forward to a wet weekend. It happened – and it was followed by another – Kalahari Downs all up had about 100 lovely mm. ‘Usual whinge’ follows though – it has been so cool at night and the westerlies that arrived afterwards were so harsh that only the kikuyu ventured a green shoot. Our better summer grasses have yet to wake up to spring. And it is now history too that on our wet weekend the All Blacks gave our ever –hopeful Wallabies a good old fashioned pizzling at Eden Park, and the Bledisloe Cup remains bolted to the Shaky Isles floor ! But, as Ned Kelly-famously averred, “Such is life!"
There has been considerable interest in the idea of forming a Mt Mee Progress Association out of the bones of the Mt Mee Public Hall Committee, and I can announce that a brief public meeting in the Hall is planned for 7pm on the evening of Friday 14th November to discuss the proposal and to plan the way ahead. Please keep this evening free so that you can be part of the process. Hall Committee will not proceed with this proposal unless the Mt Mee community asks it to do so. Solid community representation at that meeting is essential!
The Savoyards’ “The Melody Lingers” concert of 14th September was a real gem, marred only by a regrettable paucity of bums on seats. The “Singers” have matured into a very professional and very polished outfit and the two newcomers – soprano Sarah Copely and mezzo Georgina Purdie, are brilliant additions. This was the tenth appearance of the “Singers” at Mt Mee, and it was surely their best! For everyone there was something special – for me it was ‘Ole Man River’ performed in duet by tenor John Hills and bass Mark Craig. The very appealing arrangement had been recently found by that ace scrounger, Director Phyll Griffin, while fossicking in an antique shop. I really cannot understand why the Savoyard Singers did not play to a packed Mt Mee house. Everyone who was there went home with stars in their eyes and a song in their heart – (and a full tum). Don’t miss such a delightful afternoon next year!
The other notable recently past event was the P&C Trivia night. There was a good turnout – although there could have been a few more parents supporting their school fundraiser. I think that there were nine tables of eight or nine people. The questions were torrid – including some ball- tearers allegedly set by grade fivers. I’m proud to relate that our table, “Glen’s Aces” coasted to a comfortable third place – in the face of competition from such oddly named combos as “The Moosicians” and “The Afro Dizziaks”.
The “Coming Events” listings are full of promise too.
Firstly, a reminder that the Sunshine Coast Symphony performs “Crowning Glory” at Mt Mee under the baton of Ms Donna McMahon on Sunday 9th November. Read more about it elsewhere in this Grapevine and prepare for a fun afternoon of great music. Note too that Hall President Denton is taking bookings for this concert in place of Kay, who will be ‘in absentia’ during the critical period.
Secondly, a reminder that The Woodford Folk Festival is running the Small Halls Festival event again in our Hall this year – thanks again to sponsorship assistance from Cr Adrian Raedel of MBRC. This will be on the evening of Sunday 21st December. Make a note of this date too – because it was a ‘bottler’ of an evening last year – great international and local performers, great supper, great bar and great prices. This is a ‘Highly Recommended’ event!
As I write, Mt Mee is half way through the Council’s spring wild dog control programme. I checked my baitline and recovered the untaken baits this afternoon, and made an interesting observation.
Sadly, the carcass of a recently deceased Brahman steer is lying in our “Death Valley”, actually along the baitline. I thought that this would interfere with things – but far from it! The olfactory stimulus evidently lured dogs out of the forestry and down our farm track towards the body. But although every bait between the forestry gate and the carcass was taken – the carcass wasn’t touched! Why is it so?
Some troublemakers would argue that dogs aren’t stupid, that they know a Brahman when they see one and that they would rather stick to chewable horsemeat!
It all reminded me of the late Ted Cunningham – that ascerbic, old-school North Queensland cattleman who owned several northern properties and who bred Devon and woolly Shorthorn bulls for sale all over North Queensland’s Gulf and Peninsula country. Ted welcomed the arrival of Brahman cattle into the North with great enthusiasm. “You just never know when you are going to need something capable of pulling a plough or a cart” he said to me, “and at a pinch you might be able to use them for dog tucker too!”
Finally – an apology. Because of heavy international commitments – (I am set down to judge a major northern New Zealand calf show in October) there will be no “Mt Mee Ramblings” column for November.
