TYPICAL that I go away for a week holidays only to come back to read the headlines that doubt has been put on the construction of our “Moulamein bridge” at Swan Hill.
We almost moved ahead. Then this.
Let’s hope my grandchildren get to drive it before they are too old because it looks like I never will.
I was going to get buried when I died, but I am thinking cremation might not be too bad as my great-grandchildren could drive my ashes across the new bridge.
Well done to all of our local politicians and government departments that are standing up and putting their name to the only location of our bridge that will ever get across the Murray.
Netball OK, footy not so
A GRADE netball had a draw on Saturday and our senior footballers went down by 33 points.
There was not much success on the fields, but we had a great night off the field with our commodity auction.
I think the end result was around the $40,000 mark.
The generosity of businesses and people of our district never ceases to amaze me.
Thank you to those poor buggers that had to go around asking for donations.
Thank you to those that donated, businesses as well as individuals.
There is also a big thank you to those that put their hands in their pockets to buy all of the stuff that was donated.
For those that donated, most of your generosity was rewarded by market-or-above prices for our football netball club.
Well done to everyone involved.
This week we travel to the ground on the side of the hill to our mates at Wandella.
This is the only time of the year when I do not want to hear the Bombers’ team song.
We can only hope their rooms are silent and our room is booming.
Tough football
WE made the trip up to a place called Finke to visit our daughter who works out in the community teaching.
We just happened to time it with the Finke Desert Race. This was a big event in town.
But the biggest event was their three-day footy, softball carnival. Finke had two teams in the footy. The Crows are their regular team.
To honour an Elder that died, they put in a second team – the Cats – so people coming back for the memorial could play.
That was six teams all up. They played three rounds, then finals. There is plenty of talent out there.
It would be good to get a fly-in, fly-out system going for the kids up there.
If we could get them back to our competition, they would run rings around the best of our kids.
Not many of the kids wear boots, some wear socks, the rest are barefooted. But it does not stop them.
Next time you complain about the condition of any oval that we play on … no grass up there, just hard dry red sand to cushion their fall.
One thing they do if they do fall is roll. It takes less skin off.
I got to goal umpire a few games, but I was not going to get involved in the finals.
It was better left to the locals.
Rain falls
THAT was a great drop last week and a bit more at the weekend.
By the time I got back from my drive around, the district is looking good again.
Battery drive
WINTER is when batteries die.
The Moulamein Men’s Shed can turn these dead batteries into fish for our district rivers.
If you have a heap of them, pick-up can be arranged.
Preferably on a pallet for easy unloading.
But they can be picked up by hand or dropped off in font of our Men’s Shed in town.
For more information, get in touch with Noel Sutton on 0447 541 200.
They have been trying to turn lead into gold for centuries. This is close. Turning lead into fish.
Men’s Shed wood mill
WHEN the Moulamein Men’s Shed mob is not restocking our rivers with fish, they make red gum furniture with their Lucas Mill.
The shed is holding an open day on Sunday at Peter Redfern’s property on the Barham Road from 11am.
There will be a barbecue and soft drink supplied for those that would like to have a look at how this mill works.
If you have a good piece of timber and you would like it milled, this is the day for you to see how it is done.
If you would like a feed, get in touch with Alen by the end of today on 0422 907 090 to help with catering.
BYO earmuffs or they will have some on hand if you do not have any.
I will just take my hearing aids out so I cannot hear a thing.
River levels
THE Edward River has continued to rise and is now at over 2.5 metres and over 2800 megalitres a day.
The Edward will keep rising as there is over 4500ML at Deniliquin.
There is also 900ML coming down the Billabong.
Please check you boats and your pumps because of this great bit of water coming our way.
There have been a few small cod landed but fishing is still very quiet.
