Friday 15 June

I forgot to mention yesterday of our “OH BUGGER” moment.  We had packed quite a bit of fruit and vegetables to sustain us for a few days, recognizing that when we enter South Australia we would have to divest any remaining F & V and re-purchase once in that state.  We had not realized that the Riverina region has a fruit fly zone and so we had to dump about ¼ of our fresh provisions.  We completely understand the repercussions to any farmers, and the penalty if caught was a significant deterrent as well. NOTE TO SELVES : Keep checking the AQIS website.

When we woke this morning we realized there were more attractions in Narrandera which we needed to visit, so decided to spend another day here.

We dusted off the bikes from their shiny new rack on the caravan and set off for the Narrandera wetlands. It was only about a 1.5 km circuit, and we found there were quite a number of explanation boards to help us understand firstly what a wetland is and does for the river system and the wildlife habitat, and secondly a great display of the progression of this wetland from a barren paddock to what it is today.

An Australian Panel Bridge allowed easy access around the wetlands. These bridges as well as Bailey Bridges were designed to enable quick assembly using only manual labour.  They provided access across waterways to transport supplies and replace infrastructure destroyed in military conflict. Each panel could be carried by six men , with each part being numbered and labeled. The Australian Panel is a trapezoidal or leaning rectangular shape with and internal “W” or “Zig-Zag” shaped support.

It was a great sunny day, not too hot, but enough to shed a layer while riding.  The Cemetery was our next venue for exploration, and we always enjoy (if that is the politically correct term) traipsing through the resting places of people who were significant in the relevant country town. While we are always armed with a “mud-map” from the Tourist Information Centre, we are often geographically challenged by the map, so the test is to see who finds the particular headstone first.  We have learned a few facts about headstones during our walks through cemeteries.  Did you know that a column which is severed in half is a representation of a “life cut short”, so usually marks the grave of a younger person who died.

 I am showing a photo of the grave of Archdeacon Rawlings, who lived between 1869 to 1955.  Our pamphlet gave us a few random facts about the Archdeacon. He was only 150cm tall and he made his rounds on a bicycle.  At his previous parish of Wilcannia he rode over 25,000 (not sure if that was miles or kilometers – whatever the measurement I reckon it’s a lot of distance to cover for your flock).

Bob being the ever observant husband pointed out something interesting about the good Archdeacon’s headstone.  See if you can identify anything about it.  I’ll reveal his attention to detail later on!!

Following the theme of religious information the next stop was the local Catholic Church – St. Mel’s.  There is a frieze momument to Father Patrick Hartigan, the priest of the parish between 1917 to 1944.  He wrote some of this country’s bush poetry under the name of John O’Brien. I really enjoyed this poem which was on the frieze.

TANGMALANGALOO 

by John O'Brien

The bishop sat in lordly state and purple cap sublime,
And galvanized the old bush church at Confirmation time.
And all the kids were mustered up from fifty miles around,
With Sunday clothes, and staring eyes, and ignorance profound.
Now was it fate, or was it grace, whereby they yarded too
An overgrown two-storey lad from Tangmalangaloo?


A hefty son of virgin soil, where nature has her fling,
And grows the trefoil three feet high and mats it in the spring;
Where mighty hills uplift their heads to pierce the welkin's rim,
And trees sprout up a hundred feet before they shoot a limb;
There everything is big and grand, and men are giants too -
But Christian Knowledge wilts, alas, at Tangmalangaloo.


The bishop summed the youngsters up, as bishops only can;
He cast a searching glance around, then fixed upon his man.
But glum and dumb and undismayed through every bout he sat;
He seemed to think that he was there, but wasn't sure of that.
The bishop gave a scornful look, as bishops sometimes do,
And glared right through the pagan in from Tangmalangaloo.


"Come, tell me, boy," his lordship said in crushing tones severe,
"Come, tell me why is Christmas Day the greatest of the year?
"How is it that around the world we celebrate that day
"And send a name upon a card to those who're far away?
"Why is it wandering ones return with smiles and greetings, too?"
A squall of knowledge hit the lad from Tangmalangaloo.


He gave a lurch which set a-shake the vases on the shelf,
He knocked the benches all askew, up-ending of himself.
And so, how pleased his lordship was, and how he smiled to say,
"That's good, my boy.  Come, tell me now; and what is Christmas Day?"
The ready answer bared a fact no bishop ever knew -
"It's the day before the races out at Tangmalangaloo.

 On arriving back at the van for lunch Bob had a flat on his bike, and would you know it – I got one later in the day as well – I think the bikes have gone out in sympathy with each other!!

One can always find information on the history of a country town – its just a matter of looking.  We found a laneway through which the local Rotary Club has presented an overview of the history and industry which shaped the town.  As a further addition to the arcade walk, our next stop was the local history museum where we found amongst other paraphernalia, this delightful toilet and shower – now who would like these adorning their modern bathrooms?

We will pack up in the morning and move along the highway to Hay.

(Answer to the headstone question – we noticed the Archdeacon’s was the only headstone facing this way- the rest are all facing the opposite direction).