INTRO
This issue is coming to you from Omeo, in the Victorian high country.
Our first bit of (great) humour comes courtesy of some country folk at Bruthen – just north of Lakes Entrance. I could not get a score for you.
I include the following interesting photos in case you are in this part of the world in the future.
The first photo is the “Stoney Creek Trestle Bridge” just outside of Nowa Nowa. It is the largest bridge of its type in Victoria and has a fascinating history. The photo does not do it justice.
It was built in 1916 and allowed Melbourne trains to go beyond Bairnsdale to Orbost. It is 247m long and 20m high.
The second photo is of “Costicks Weir”, also near Nowa Nowa. It was built by the Women’s Land Army in 1939, to help with water supply for fighting bushfires. It is a very small weir, but very effective – for its chosen purpose. Probably around five or six metres across the weir bank.
Shirley at Costicks Weir
ON TO OMEO
On Sunday we drove around 130 km from Lakes Entrance to Omeo. A beautiful drive but many many corners as the road followed the twisting Tambo river.
Omeo is nestled in a valley and the caravan park is one of the most picturesque you could imagine, as the following photos show:
If you like something a bit different you could stay in one of the above brightly painted onsite vans.
The male half of the management team, Lou, provides food out of an old red caravan. The pizza menu was hilarious and superb.
We went for Lou’s Special, which included peas, broccoli and carrot – with all the normal stuff.
WALKING THE DOG – TRUE STORY
A WOMAN was flying from Melbourne to Brisbane. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sydney along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.
Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye Dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.
He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, 'Kathy, we are in Sydney for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?
The blind lady replied, 'No thanks, but maybe Max would like to stretch his legs.'
Picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses.
People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!
True story... Have a great day and remember - THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR.
ELVIS
When Elvis Presley hit the road in June 1977, he was an absolute mess.
He was only 42, but years of prescription drug abuse and horrifying dietary habits had left him bloated, depressed and near death. He had an enlarged heart, an enlarged intestine, hypertension and incredibly painful bowel problems.
He was barely sleeping and should have probably been in the hospital, but he was still a huge draw on the concert circuit and the money was too good to turn down. It had been over a year since Elvis last released a studio album, and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was determined to get more product into the stores
Despite Elvis' horrid shape, Parker arranged for a camera crew to film the June 19th show in Omaha for a planned TV special and live album. It eventually did air on CBS two months after Elvis died, but has yet to resurface in any official capacity. Of course, this isn't the image of Elvis that his estate wants the fans to remember.
Two days later ( 21 June), the cameras were still rolling when the tour hit Rapid City, South Dakota.
It was another weak and sad night until Elvis sat down at the piano near the end of the show to deliver what was a spellbinding rendition of "Unchained Melody." As guitarist Charlie Hodge held a microphone, Elvis dug deep and poured his heart into the song. His body was falling apart, but his voice remained almost as powerful as ever.
Without any doubt,it's the last great moment of his career. The tour limped along through five more shows, wrapping up June 26th at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He died less than two months later. Here's that great performance.
Moments of Clarity
As I sat, strapped in my seat waiting during the countdown, one thought kept crossing my mind ... every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder - John Glenn
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When the white missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land.
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They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land - Desmond Tutu
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America is the only country where a significant proportion of the population believes that professional wrestling is real but the moon landing was faked - David Letterman
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I'm not a paranoid, deranged millionaire. I'm a billionaire - Howard Hughes
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After the game, the King and the Pawn go into the same box - Italian proverb
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The only reason they say 'Women and children first' is to test the strength of the lifeboats - Jean Kerr
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I've been married to a communist and a fascist, and neither would take out the garbage
- Zsa Zsa Gabor
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When a man opens a car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife - Prince Philip
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Wood burns faster when you have to cut and chop it yourself - Harrison Ford
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The best cure for sea sickness, is to sit under a tree - Spike Milligan
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Lawyers believe a man is innocent until proven broke - Robin Hall
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Kill one man and you're a murderer, kill a million and you're a conqueror - Jean Rostand.
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Having more money doesn't make you happier. I have 50 million dollars but I'm just as happy as when I had 48 million! - Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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We are here on earth to do good unto others What the others are here for, I have no idea - W. H Auden
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If life were fair Elvis would still be alive today and all the impersonators would be dead - Johnny Carson
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Hollywood must be the only place on earth where you can be fired by a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a baseball cap - Steve Martin
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Home cooking. Where many a man thinks his wife is - Jimmy Durante
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America is so advanced that even the chairs are electric - Doug Hamwell
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The first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone - George Roberts
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If God had intended us to fly he would have made it easier to get to the airport - Jonathan Winter
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I have kleptomania, but when it gets bad, I take something for it - Robert Benchley
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The weather person is the only person that I know, that can be wrong 99.9 % of the time and still have a job the next day
MUSIC / POETRY / BALLADS
The following is a three hour video from the 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Feel feel to watch, none, or all, or just some bit at random.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnt1PU7llak
The following is a 40 minute video of the “Best Country Songs of all Time”. It includs songs from John Denver, Kenny Rogers and Alan Jackson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sE2grIDYNw
LET’S RETURN TO OMEO – Unpaid Advertisment
Omeo is a beautiful part of our state. They have had more issues than most of us since this time last year. Please don’t discount some sort of sojourn to this part of the world.
The first photo below shows a view of Omeo from the road to Mt Hotham, just under 10 km from Omeo. Mt Kosciusko is one of the peaks in the very background – the highest mountain on the Australian mainland.
Omeo and Mt Kosciusko
The second photo shows the devastation from the fire last summer. In some areas the tree foliage has returned strongly. In this photo, alas, it has not. This photo was taken less than 15 km from the photo above.
In two days of touring the Omeo district we have visited places with names like Victoria Falls, Cobungra, Benambra, Hinnomunjie (which has a historic bridge), Anglers Rest and Bingo Munjie.
Historic Hinnomunjie Bridge
Before we left Omeo I was fortunate to get a photo of the rare and unique Alpine Orange-Backed Cockatoo. It makes a noise just like a rooster.
Alpine Orange-Backed Cockatoo
PLEASE REMEMBER
That laughter is the best medicine. If you cannot laugh try to phone a friend, particularly one who is a good listener.
Please stay well and as happy as can be. The bear is after a cuddle.
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