Tuesday 14^th August

We set out today for our destination – Manangatang.  Not because it has a nice sound to the name, rather, because it was about 200 km from where we spent last night, and also because it had a stopover with amenities.  On the way we took some time to look through Ouyen (pronounced “oo” like in “you”). Invariably now we are able to loosely categorize country towns as having at least one of about five or six features.  A mural is one of those stand out characteristics, and Ouyen had one gracing an entire wall.  

In another episode I will list the other five elements in “What defines a country town according to Trish”. The tourist office had T-shirts on display upon which was a logo about a vanilla slice.  Upon further questioning of the gentleman at the desk, it appears that no they don’t have the record for the biggest baked one, nor the most eaten by a resident , the town is known because a Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett, called into one of the cake shops and bought one. It seems that for 14 years the town had played host to the best vanilla slice competition which arose from the visit of the premier.  The last competition was in 2011, and drew over 3000 people to the town for the event.

Just outside Ouyen there is a mine that processes mineral sands to produce zircon and titanium dioxide products. These are used in the production of white goods, paints and cosmetics.  It is run by Iluka and from literature I found it is in the closing down and rehabilitation stages which are expected to take at least three years.

When we arrived in Manangatang we were already armed with our “Walk through Manangatang” booklet, obtained at Ouyen.  After we found out camping spot for the night we were delighted to see the town not only provided a lovely new shower and toilet for the traveller, there was a power outlet as well. This was a blessing as the nights can get mighty cold and when there is no access to a fire, putting the heater on in the van is welcome relief.

While walking along the street, a local lady began chatting to us and it emerged she was responsible for the production of the brochure. She seemed quite passionate about having people stay overnight in the town and was rightly proud of what the town provided for the travelling population.  Apart from the interesting sculpture within a mallee root garden, the town seemed to us to be such a sad and dying one. I believe this sculpture is open to your own interpretation, as there was no accompanying explanation.  

The houses and gardens unfortunately are lacking in care and maintenance and the main street is one of about twenty shops, of which only two or so are still operating.

Never mind, we completed the very small town walk which featured the usual churches and school and headed back to catch up on reading and other chores.

  

It was such a sunny afternoon that I felt guilty being indoors, so I got on the bike and burned off some energy riding around as many back streets as I could find.