MT MEE NEWS By Ian Wells
Peter Wise and Bob Atkinson at the launch of Peter’s book, "Mt Mee Murders"
Since our last column was published the weather gods have smiled again on the Mountain.
We are enjoying the kindest winter for many years – both for feed and water. All we want now is the dollar dropping to about 70c and we might get a little joy out of our cattle.
The especially observant may have noticed that there was no Mt Mee News in the last edition of the Grapevine. This fortuitous relief from boredom was due entirely to the failure of your writer to attach the result of his midnight labours to his email to the Editor. We can’t even blame a capricious computer!
There have been two very significant Mountain events since our last column.
First was the launch of “The Mt Mee Murders”, the first book published for our local author Peter Wise – that irrepressible sheik of Topyard Road!
It was released last month and it was officially launched in “birches” restaurant at a morning function that was attended by over 100 guests. This was some event. In fact the cooling refreshments flowed nearly all day! Peter said later “That was simply the very best day of my life!”.
Guest speaker and nominated “launcher” was an old mate of Peter’s – one Bob Atkinson, and he told some great tales about their joint early days in the service (??) of the Queensland Government. Peter responded with a few words – and then a few more words about his strange finds in the Mt Mee forest which were incorporated in the plot – and then a few more about his achievements as “Mr Australia” way back in the “Dreamtime” – and then a few more for good measure. But it was all most entertaining. Meanwhile, Peter’s wife Roslyn quickly sold out their “launch” stock of 150 copies of the book.
The story combines real suspense with just a little bit of surreptitious sex – what more could you ask for? It demands to be read at a single sitting and it ends with an interesting twist. For Mountain people, it is packed with recognisable landmarks and it has a handful of thinly disguised local characters.
Peter is fired with success now and I smell another book!
Meanwhile, for those too lazy to haunt the bookshops, a few copies of “The Mt Mee Murders” may still be available from Di at “birches’.
Second was the “Symphony on the Mountain” concert on the 15th June in the Mt Mee Hall.
What a phenomenal afternoon! The old Hall was absolutely packed (we had been turning people away for almost three weeks), the orchestra was “on fire”, the music was just wonderful and the Joyce Knight organised afternoon tea was, as usual, superb – on the lawn under sunny skies.
It is hard to pick out highlights – it was all one big bang! As usual, the program chosen was of familiar themes with lots of variety, and it was pitched to perfection to the tastes of our everyday audience.
The orchestra had planned to finish up with the old “Thunder and Lightning Polka” – remembered by the real grown-ups as the theme for ABC radio sport sessions a year or three ago. But the audience simply rose to its feet and would not let them go without more – and more!
It was a truly great afternoon – and as a bonus we were instructed how to spell “program”! Thanks Andrew!
We apologise again to those who missed out on bookings. The only consolation we can offer is that the orchestra is performing in the Kedron Wavell Services Club at Chermside on Sunday 24th August at 2pm. Turn up on the day!
We also pass on our sincere thanks to the Mountain Top Church, who finished up their morning service in the Hall very promptly at 11am and then helped us to set up the auditorium for the concert. (That is always a very tight time – with a window of only 30 minutes before the orchestra arrives to rehearse).
A useful reminder is that the Savoyard Singers will be performing in the Hall on Sunday 14th September.
On 30th November we have the Sunshine Coast Orchestra – featuring our very own Cathy Croot as manager and occasional woodwind, and that old Gannon St. reprobate Les Suart belting the bejasus out of his brand new typani.
Bookings are open already for both concerts – phone Kay on 5498 2104.
Following the meeting reported in the last edition there has been very strong support for our Mountain feral dog fund. Shooter Rod Thomas has been hors de combat with a leg injury and has been trying his luck from the Jeep. He will be seriously back in the field as soon as he is mobile. Meanwhile Ben Facy has reported a personal tally of 16 dogs in recent months. There can be no doubt that we are in the midst of a plague.
