June2015_Mt Mee Ramblings

By Ian Wells

We are still enjoying a wonderful autumn on the Mountain.  There has been enough warmth and moisture to keep things going, although as I write we have a very cold snap and I am huddled over a heater.  But, it is mid-May!  But the sombre news is that el Nino is back.  Sometimes el Nino hasn’t treated us too badly, so let’s hope that will be the case this time.

I found the ANZAC Day service at Dahmongah Look-Out very moving.  Guest speaker Dave Daniel shared just a few of his Vietnam demons with us – he struggled visibly as he did so and that really brought home his messages about the impossibility of returning home unscarred and unchanged after active service.  While the nature of combat experiences may have changed over the years, the resulting mental and physical handicaps haven’t altered all that much since Gallipoli.  We ordinary citizens need to appreciate just how much the members of our defence forces are risking, as they keep us safe. 

It was a glorious dawn, a superb sunrise.  The warbird flyover and a volley of genuine Lee Enfield 303 shots during the Sacred Silence created stunning ambience;  a large number of beautifully flowered wreaths were laid to the music of ‘lone piper’ Angie McNab;  there were absolutely magic moments from children of the Mt Mee School;  a magnificent effort by the Burpengary Military Cadets who provided a Catafalque Party and Flag Detail – and much, much more!  And crowd?  Who knows, but it was huge – some estimate up to 1000 people!  Not too bad for little Mt Mee with just some 260 registered voters!  

During May, the Mt Mee Hall had its AGM, at which unsurprisingly, the surviving incumbents were returned to office, with new secretary Joanne Brodie taking over from Neil Cook.  Meanwhile, Neil and Deb have settled happily in Laidley.

With little other news, I have compiled a separate article to indulge my hobby horse with some general comments on food safety, an area of some professional activity for me in my working life and one now attracting considerable public interest following recent health issues with imported foodstuffs.         (See page 1 – reference for printed and digital edition.  On here see "Eat Australian – Here’s why")