Jun2013_MT MEE NEWS
By Ian Wells
What an extraordinary season – six months without a drop of useful rain followed by months of unremitting downpours, a few days of idyllic autumn sunshine and then back to the cold and the wet.
Here at Kalahari Downs we had almost completed a round of woody weed control before the cooler weather halted sap flow. We are rather pleased with that – considering our age and infirmity!
The Hall restoration has been completed and it looks a picture. Sadly though, someone removed some bollards and drove a vehicle over the top of a plastic septic tank. They were kind enough to seal the cracks with silicone, but not kind enough to mention to anyone that any unfortunate pedestrian choosing to walk over it would likely enjoy a perfumed bath! It will be fenced off while Council licks its wounds.
The Hall AGM on Wednesday 15th May drew a very disappointing turnout of residents. The election of officers reversed the roles of former vice president Denton Webster and your formerly presidential writer – otherwise there were no significant changes. Denton was actually elected in absentia – at that time he remained hospitalised following a climbing mishap on Mt Tibrogargen.
The sunrise ANZAC day service at the memorial in the Dahmonga Look-Out park was memorable. Perfect weather had the venue at its very best. The wreaths were laid as our own special classic war-bird flyover came at us over the escarpment out of the rising sun. How lucky can you get?
Guest speaker Colonel John Mayer of the US Marines gave a very thoughtful talk on the qualities and circumstances that make an effective fighting unit – as a veteran of command in recent Middle East conflicts he has plenty of first hand combat knowledge.
Pupils of the Mt Mee School made a wonderful contribution with clearly presented readings and Vern Duncan did well with his unaccompanied song. But the audience did less well with their rendition of the hymn and the ANZAC national anthems. More practice needed!
It was a moving and heart-warming service, topped off with the Gunfire Breakfast provided by the Mountaintop Church – and the special coffee additive provided by the Woodford RSL Sub-branch.
Sadly, long-time MC Neil Eiby OAM announced his retirement from that role and his departure from our district to live in Buderim. Neil, a truly remarkable character, was the primary force establishing the Mt Mee services and in the conception and construction of our little Lookout memorial. Our loss may be Buderim’s gain – but it may not be – we don’t give up easily!
And an appeal for help! We displayed a period Aussie slouch hat on a 303 Lee Enfield bayoneted into the ground alongside our Lone Pine descendant, but we haven’t managed to track down a Kiwi “lemon squeezer”. If any reader can help with a loan or a donation for next year, please ring me on 5498 2104.
When you read this, the St Lucia Orchestra Mt Mee concert will be history. As I write, bookings are very heavy, a situation confounded by the fact that our phone is out yet again.
The newborn Mt Mee District Historical Society has had a couple of useful shakedown meetings since our last column, and has appointed office bearers and established a bank account. Two cake stalls at the Mt Mee Markets have netted almost $500. The display in the Woodford museum continues to attract plenty of interest too.
The group is still looking for old picture frames for the growing picture collection. Any donation of suitable frames, with or without unwanted pictures, would be more than welcome – please phone Rowena on 5498 2262.
I am more than delighted to see the UQ Dayboro teaching practice move into suitable premises after so many years. That practice is a wonderful asset for the Uni – it introduces students to the real world of veterinary practice – something of a contrast to the amazing Gatton school that is laden with top level, gold plated diagnostic and treatment gizmos. While they are remarkably sophisticated, many of them are far beyond the realms of private practice reality. Students still need to learn to practice the art of their chosen profession at the same time as the science!
I feel some historical connections with the Dayboro practice. ‘Way back in the ‘Dreamtime’, our Red Hill practice handled the government dairy Tb testing contract and much production animal work for a large peri-urban Brisbane area. The northern aspect of the contract included Upper Kedron, Samford and Camp Mountain, Highvale, Mt Sampson and Samsonvale.
One day a young and keen veterinarian named Don Kerr strolled into our clinic for a yarn, and to say that he was thinking of setting up practice in Samford. What did I think of the idea? (There was professional etiquette in those far-off days!)
Don decided to go ahead and he did very well. (With the departure of Les Grono from Woodford, the closest rural practitioner in those days was David Wilson at Maleny.) As the Valley was settled and the workload grew, Don took Brian Sheahan as a partner, and Don began the branch practice in Dayboro.
Things continued to go well and the practices were split. I suspect that Don moved to Dayboro because he preferred the production animal workload to the companion animals that were beginning to dominate the Samford area. And following his strong interest in veterinary education, Don began mentoring students in much needed field experience – particularly in dairy practice. The association with the Uni grew from there.
But I like to remember that it all began with a feasibility discussion between good friends in the Ashgrove Veterinary Clinic in Red Hill.
Enough nostalgia!
Remember that the next round of wild dog baiting in the Mt Mee district has been deferred until springtime because of changes to Health Department regulations that affect mandatory notifications.
Bait uptakes in the April round were satisfactory, but there is still plenty of wild dog activity.
