A love So Great

In the town of Dunolly in Victoria there is a plaque erected by the people in honour of Queen Victoria. It reads as follows: June 22nd 1897 Erected by the burgesses of Dunolly In affectionate loyalty to the British throne and empire And in commemoration of the 60th year Of the illustrious reign of VICTORIA Queen of Gt. Britain etc, etc, Empress of India Who rules with beneficent sway over 400 millions Of the human race: On whose wide dominions The sun never sets. A free people we rejoice. ‘She wrought her people lasting good.’ ‘Her court was pure; Her … Continue reading A love So Great

Split Level Graves

Yet another town possessing a mineral spa Blackwood, Vic is perched on a hilltop with rustic weatherboard cottages flanking the steep streets. The word flanking probably doesn’t quite describe the way the houses cling to blocks that drop steeply away to the Lerderderg River far below. This was once a mining area and the hills are criss-crossed with wooden water races. The crowning glory is the rambling old wooden pub. Across the road there is a ‘gourmet’ general store (we love our food with a passion in Victoria) and a post office. Higher up the hill is the church on … Continue reading Split Level Graves

Little Egypt

Being Saturday night there is a guitarist in the park and tables are scarce. A rather loud and slightly sozzled couple from down south move in on our somewhat squeezy table. Now grey nomads are normally a friendly lot but this was pushing things a bit far. He tells us that he knows music and has sung to 800 people. We’re thinking it must have been karaoke! She dances the Egyptian and flashes a bit of leg like one shouldn’t at an advanced age. Another table becomes available. We make a dash for it. Our group all breathe a sigh … Continue reading Little Egypt

Alternating

July 2014 Sat – At 6:00pm we pick up our ‘still working’ mates from Cairns airport, they’ve come to join us for a few days in the sun. On the return drive to Port Douglas the car’s battery light keeps blinking on and off, on and off, we’re all a little nervous as there is nowhere to pull over on the coast road. Mon – Woody takes the car to a local mechanic for assessment and it is found that the alternator has failed. Another one will have to be shipped up from Melbourne. ‘Bill’ the mechanic can’t do the … Continue reading Alternating

It’s a matter of how you look at it

Bravely we decide to do the self drive tour of Kingaroy, we came undone doing this in Charters Towers when Woody threatened to fling the talking CD out the car window. Anyway we do our best to follow the weird instructions which are as cryptic as a car trial. Out past ex Queensland Premier Joe Bjelke Peterson’s Bethany property then back across town to the Mt Wooroolin lookout with its 360 degree view of the area. More intriguing than the view is the lookout structure itself. It is almost as though someone was trying to avoid building steps and instead … Continue reading It’s a matter of how you look at it

Railway Hotel, Castlemaine

In darkness and driving rain we find the single storey Railway Hotel 1875 in Gingell Street on the ‘other side of the tracks’ in Castlemaine. The bar is welcoming but our fellas have found a cosy corner in the dimly lit dining room near the fire. Low timber ceilings enhance the ambience. The menu is inspired yet still includes the ‘usual suspects’, fish and chips and of course parma. This is just the kind of pub that you dream of finding on a cold Victorian winter’s night.   Continue reading Railway Hotel, Castlemaine