Christmas 2010

May this Christmas be the very best one ever. Be safe, be happy and love your family.
Merry Christmas to all.

Father's Day 2010

September 5th is Father's Day and it will be 16 years since our Dad died! The day is a time for reflection on what was and what could have been. Children expect their parents to always be around to guide and to mentor them, sadly that is not the way of the world. To not have your father around to ask those all important questions like what should I do about .... and what if I do it this way? and of course will Collingwood win the grand final this year.
The store of history that your father has accumulated through his life, should be passed on to each generation. Father's Day is a time one should get together with their father and show him how much he means to you and yours, you should also take the time to LISTEN to him and his stories, because like my dad, he will not always be around. Don't let the opportunity pass!

Mother's Day

Well here it is Mother's Day 2010 and it is nearly 20 years since Mum passed away. We all still think of you Mum, thanks for being you!
The foolishness of 'old people', me in particular, I split/tore open my shins, the left one in particular, whilst jumping onto my trailer. To much hast & not enough speed me thinks and whilst it did not hurt all that much at the time but four days later the 'pain' has started to kick in. If I sit with the leg up it hurts when I have to stand and walk, if I walk it loosens up a piece but hurts when I stop walking. I can not win, oh well such is life!
I traveled to Whorouly yesterday for the netball games and found the township a very pleasant but spread out area. It was a long day and the leg gave me curry a fair bit, but that's what one has to do.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ALL MOTHERS.

Football/Netball + track

Well the football & netball season has started & that means at least 8 hours at the netball looking after my girls, and sometimes girls from other teams. It's a fun day really but a long one and as one gets older the head and back play up more and more.
The girls really enjoy playing and its good to know I am responsible for their well being on the field, I'm unsure for how many more years I will be able to do it, but whilst I can I suppose I will.
The 'Gregorian Track' has been extended yet again, not quite finished yet but it's well on the way. There is a lot of hard work done and lots more to do yet, but in the end it will definitely be worth it for all those people who wish to get some exercise safely, me included. I have looked and planned the final stage all the way to the caravan park, but there is a problem that I'm unsure if I will be able to remedy. Two rather deep 'cuttings' plus a couple who have two Alsatian dogs that don't like people and the people don't particularly want a path going past their house even though the path is on public land. Oh well what will be will be!

Low life's

Well after some years of being left alone by the Benalla low life's they have struck twice in two weeks at the family history group's rooms. The first time these morons broke in through the door and took all our soft drinks and a little cash. The second time the scumbags could not get in via either door so broke in through a window, but they did not cut their throats, which is most unfortunate.
It would appear these 'young' idiots are moving around the Benalla area on a Friday & Saturday nights breaking into various establishments around the town, it would be good if a major 'accident' happened to these mentally deficient slimes. One has to wonder just what their parents believe they are up too or if they really care at all, maybe they are just following their parents lead!

Charnwood Camp

Well what a really great weekend, lots of good company with some 'new' people joining in and enjoying their time with us all. This year the weather was perfect with lots of sunshine and evenings that were not to cool. The kids were able to take advantage of the lake, swimming and using the truck tubes and canoe. There were crayfish and trout in both the lake and creek which kept some of the kids' feet up of the bottom of the lake. The family, those who bothered to go, had a splendid time, as usual, I particularly liked catching up with the newest member, Bree, such a sweetie!
As usual the surrounding hills got a real work out with intrepid explorers, both young and old enjoying the quiet (except for the cockies) and seeing all the bird life and the koala and kangaroos. The venue is just perfect with sleeping for 103 in a variety of room combination's, a big kitchen and dinning room as well as the large deck area.
This year we had extra visitors that included some family who had not been before plus some friends of family, who had a great time also. The catering arrangements this year were changed, but there was still lots and lots of food in many forms, yum!
I believe this is a great venue for the family get together, maybe a little too far for some, but it has everything for families. Peace and quiet for the oldies, plenty to keep the youngsters occupied only the teens might find it a bit 'daunting' the fact that they have to do things without electronic help or fashion shops!
I look forward to the next time at Charnwood.

Trip

What a great country we have. Visited Halls Gap where we walked and talked and climbed, saw emu, deer and of course, kangaroos, black cockatoos and fed crimson rosellas and magpies as well as sulphur crested cockatoos. Then went to Warrnambool, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Wye River, Lorne, and Aireys Inlet before heading home via the Western Ring road. Took some 350 photos, met some nice people and we are looking forward to returning, surely a sign of a great holiday, wanting to return.

Bogong Village

We spent three wonderful days at Bogong Village in a nice new home that included a king size bed and spar and a queen size bed and views. Lovely walk around Lake Guy and through the dam wall in the early morning crispness. A day spent at Mt Beauty and Falls Creek doing the tourist thing which included taking some very memorable photos, including the one here. We did the 'Fainter Falls' walk that proved to be most enjoyable, again getting some great shots of the falls. On our return we went to Albury for an appointment then a lunch at a 'country pub'.
All in all a relaxing time was had, and now it's time to head to Halls Gap and Warrnambool, Hamilton and who knows where else for another week or so. This time we are meeting friends there and we all are sharing a 3 bedroom house. Lots of walks and photography to be done I'm sure.

Rain

Well that was a quick 1" of rain, now for the humidity.
AND the phone is working again, wonder of wonders but will the technician still come out??

I'm back!

I'm Back!
More clearing of the track due to storm damage, oh well! more firewood for next year!
I must have been naughty because Telstra has 'lost' my house phone, I still have the internet connection, so I can keep up to date here at least. Oh yer! the mobile does not get reception in the house, so we have to go outside to talk, beauty!
Bogong Village has us to look forward for a few days, should be a nice relaxing time. Next its Halls Gap, lots of walks and photos coming up there for sure.
I feel I will look like a Japanese tourist with the video camera and the SLR both hanging off the neck, however I should get some great shots and video.
Hey all you blokes out there now Tiger Woods has set the example how many of you are going to follow his lead and confess all your affairs?
I'm lost without the ride-on mower, lots of things I could be doing including mowing and track maintenance, but I suppose it will just have to wait on its return. Maybe I can get the car and trailer out, Hmm!

New section of track

Have just finished re-opening 300 meters of track. It was an old road used when the PMG laid their cables, unfortunately without my mowers working it still has a lot of grass on it. Maybe I can con a local with a tractor and slasher into helping???
Soon it will be all the way to the caravan park. Soon! yer right.

Fate?

Is it fate ? this is the question I ask myself, yesterday I started mowing the house lawn and it took a long time and it was not a good cut. On turning the mower over I discovered the blades are well worn, so need replacing. Today I decided to mow out the front with the ride on mower and after 10 minutes the drive belt broke, so it is fate, I don't need to mow at all!
What to do now for the rest of the day, cut down a tree, extend the walking path, read some books? who knows, but I'm sure I will find something to do.

What a 'funny day,' humid and long, a perfect day to do nothing, which I performed with flare! Tomorrow may be a day to mow the grass as I have been putting it off for far too long.

Lots of new music has been landing on our doorstep, 2 of Mark Knopfler's, Tania Rose, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley, the Cowsills, Frankie Valley & the Four Seasons & Bob Dylan, just to name a few. There are so many wonderful artists and groups out there that have not, as yet, made it to our home, but given long enough, they might. I am always open to good suggestions in regards to music that is.

One hundred and twenty four years is a long time to have a 'sports day' running, but that is exactly what will be happening tomorrow (Saturday) at the Tolmie Sports Day. A most wonderful, relaxing day worth while attending, they even allow 'city folk' to attend. Lots of events for all the family, so be there or be L7.

The path and the oak tree.

Most of the day spent cutting up and removing fallen limbs from the walking track. One tree that suffered more than the rest was a 100+ year old oak tree that lost 2/3rd's of its canopy, almost brought tears to a neighbors eyes when she say what nature had done to 'her tree'.
So here we have a before and an after shot which does not do justice to the amount of limbs and head that had to be moved. All clear for the moment, that is until the next storm, oh well it keeps me of the street!

Storms

Well the storm dumped 16.5mm of rain here, but it also brought down branches & trees some of which ended up on the walking track. So it's off to see the wizard, well at least the wizard will have to take his chainsaw and clean up the mess.

Talking of mess I sent a parcel interstate, registered post, and decided to make sure it was received at the other end, so I rang Australia Post to check. Now after 20 minutes of having to listen to their c*%@ self promotion ads I am giving up, 'fair dinkum' those slack b's! Why would someone use Australia Post if they had any other choice are they saying only their time is important.

Well at last some Queensland weather, periods of heavy rain, sunshine and humidity, what more could one ask for except being in Queensland itself.

Lots to talk about today from family history to military and bike paths.

First off bike paths I think, the government is putting in 1.2 million dollars to upgrade the Main Yarra Trail on the Yarra Boulevard. Work is underway on the 134 kilometre rail trail to Mansfield, Victoria's biggest rail trail project. A 22k bike path from the Paterson River to Moorooduc will be built as part of the $759M Peninsula Link project. In a sign of future trends, the City of Yarra is replacing car parking spaces with bike parking to improve parking efficiency and access to facilities. And if that is not enough; The start of the year has resulted in a sudden flood of people switching to the bike for the journey to the local railway station, according to data collected by the Parkiteer bike cage system (see above).

More than 100 people signed up to use Parkiteer cages in January which is a 25 per cent increase on the best month of 2009. In line with the growing demand, the number of Parkiteer bike cages at train stations has also increased. By the end of February there will be new cages at Ferntree Gully, Laverton, Noble Park and Nunawading train stations.

Laverton station will be only the second station (after Frankston) to have two cages installed. This is a great win for commuters in the area who have sent emails and letters to the Department of Transport requesting better bike parking facilities at the station. At Brighton Beach the introduction of the Parkiteer cage has seen 14 people previously driving to the station now riding. The balance of cage members were already riding or using other methods to get to the station.

This clearly shows the investment in the cages has more than paid off in health, congestion and parking benefits.
And best of all you can nominate the Benalla Station for one of these cages!

Now family history, a cousin has almost completed her family line, but just to be sure she has everything available she will be taking herself of to Mauritius to chase down information from there. The Australian States & Territories should get their act together and make a standard rate of extortion for their birth, death & marriage certificates. For a long time state governments paid little concern for family historians, but then they realized there were many thousands of people out there chasing their relatives and needing certificates to prove information. So guess what? the governments started raising the price they charged, and they are still doing so. As a result they are milking family historians for all they can get. Will they never learn it is better to give than receive!

Australia has been involved in many armed conflicts through-out it's short history, and whilst our governments like to use servicemen & women to make others conform to their ideals, they soon forget those men & women when the conflict ends. However there are now many people and organizations around the country that endeavor to preserve and show diverse items they have collected to the general public. These collections always need more items to be donated or made available to be purchased, so if you have unwanted items I'm sure they would be most grateful for a donation. In Benalla there are a few private collectors as well as the new air museum at the airport complex and now the RSL has taken on-board suggestions to display several items to the public. So for those interested in our military history there is now plenty of opportunities to view historic war memorabilia in and around Benalla.

Is there a happier or more divisive group of people than family? Having spent more that 25 years collecting information on my family, I have come to realize that there is no more important thing in life than your family. However having said that there are times one could quiet easily 'strangle' some members of the family for their 'care less' attitude. I often wonder how old people have to be before they start to consider others as much as they do themselves!
About 17 years ago we took the opportunity to travel to the West, to not only see the greatest country on earth, but also to take the time to meet family that we had never met before. A wonderful example of this is the photo above this is of two brothers Alan & Jack Kirk (both of whom are now dead)these two men gave freely of their time showing us around their area and enlightening us on family history & secrets. We met and spent time with a lot of other family members also and it was a most pleasant time, certainly fond memories that we will retain always.
Over the years I have, like most family historians, come across 'brick-walls' and I am please to say I have been able to solve all but one of these.
In 1853 my great-great grandfather, William Kirk, died whilst on the goldfields of Bendigo. William was only 23 years old when this tragedy occurred. He was newly married and had a young son, George James Kirk at the time and was, according to family history, with his father William Kirk and his wife at the time. Now finding information on the death of William has caused a lot of headaches, firstly as there is no listing of his death in the records, although there is a William Kirk's death in the Victorian Inquest listing. This William is 23 years of age and although I have obtained the coroners inquest on this death it throws up more questions than it answers. There is no record of any deaths or burials officially listed for William in 1853. Having said that a lovely researcher in Bendigo has found a death and burial for a William Kirk at White Hills, death 8 August 1853 and buried 9 August 1853, but without further information this mystery remains.
Maybe one day my request to the Victorian Birth, Death & Marriage registry will be answered and I will at last be able to knock Down this 'brick-wall.
(The man in the top hat is William Kirk the senior, William's father).

Great walk today

Due to our 'spot of rain' the walking path was wonderful to walk upon today, we even extended our walk by a kilometer or more. The new walk section is a little more challenging but it adds a new dimension to the daily walk. It was good to catch up with a local and his dog 'Oscar' who particularly likes his walks along the path with all its new smells.
The Broken River is running reasonable fast, but dirty, at the moment and the ants, many types, are really active scouting around for food and building new homes.
'Our family' of kookaburras are also active, and noisy, greeting us with their laughter in the mornings. I must say I will be glad when the gum trees stop shedding their bark all over the path, but it is announcing a start of a new season so I guess I will have to put up with it.
There is always something to do on the path, clearing, widening, leveling, filling in holes created by wombats and spraying, all this is great therapy and it is a real pleasure to see so many taking advantage of the path.
Something that I would like to do is attach labels, to name various trees and bushes along the walking path. The photo here is of a Bunya Bunya Pine tree, one of many at Swanpool that can be seen when walking along the path.

Football/Netball Season.

Well the really silly season is fast approaching, despite their best (or worst) efforts the VCFL will have to put up with four former B&DFNL football / netball teams playing this year. All four teams have been accepted into the O&KFNL, it will be a real step up for all but a few players, but if all players train and practice as hard and as best they can then they should enjoy their season.
This season above all else is the season to show the VCFL just how narrow minded and backward they are, but that will only happen through hard work, both on and off the fields/courts.
The B&DFNL allowed players to play at their own level and enjoy the experience, most players, male & female have friends in all the other clubs, will it continue with the new clubs? lets hope so!
Through this blog I will try to add photos of matches that Swanpool & Tatong play in week bye week, so keep an eye out.

Walking - bike paths

What more pleasant way of spending an hour or two, than by stretching ones legs on a walking/bike path.
Well Benalla has one along the Midland Highway, that was put down after a lot of work that was done by a private citizen, it is used now on a regular basis by quiet a few people.
A few communities in the Benalla District also see this as an alternative way to keep fit by regular and safe exercise, walking is an ideal form of fitness for all ages.
I recently heard of one such path in a community to the north of Benalla, that has been built and maintained by local people, this one is also being used on a regular basis.
There is a 5km plus one on the south side that is constantly being upgraded and extended, with more and more people taking advantage of this most pleasant, quiet and safe walking (even running) path. It is very nice to walk along this path and see all the wonderful wildlife, especially the pair of local eagles who use an open are to train there youngster. During the evening hours the path is constantly used by nocturnal animals, some a little more destructive than others.
Another path that has been put forward in quite some detail for another small community has met with a bit of animosity by a small, yet vocal, minority who I believe can not see 'past their noses', and who, are disputing this wonderful local amenity that would add charm and an easily accessible, safe place in the township to exercise. Maybe these objectors do not want to get fit and wish just to remain couch potatoes instead.
Whilst there is not always an appropriate section of local community area to construct and maintain a walking path, every endeavor to have one in each community should be looked at by those people. The health benefits, physical and mental, for this type of gentle exercise is well know and not only is it a of great benefit to the exerciser but also to the health system in reducing medical attention.
Bike paths.
Now the question: Does the Benalla Rural City actively support and encourage the building of bike paths for locals and tourists in their city?
The answer: A simple NO!
Why? because they don't/can't see/understand what is in it for them. There are none so blind as those who wont see!

Recently the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome industries has again experienced rapid growth, with new caravan registrations increasing to an average rate of 14% a year, a trend that is expected to continue in the near future.

It is significant to note that Victoria is estimated to represent 80% of caravan manufacturing nationally.*
* Source: Caravan Industry Association (CIA), Caravan Industry Overview, 2003

Current caravan registrations are around 80,000 per year.

The above is just part of a submission that was presented to the Benalla Rural City to try and encourage them to make available in the city caravan parking spots. It fell on deaf ears!

A perfect example (and one again that was presented) of a town catering for the caravan population is Childers in Queensland. The town has a population of about 2000 people but their council has seen fit to allocate an exceptionally large 'tourist parking area'. This area consists of 12 drive through parking bays, six bays for 'combi-vans' and the like plus six parking spots for buses. There is also a 'dump point' for caravans. All in all a wonderful spot for tourists to park and it is within a short walk to toilets, main shopping center and tourist information center. It is also very well sign posted, both on the highway and the side street.

Benalla has about 10 times the population, but one twelth the amount of 'tourist parking spaces'.

No place for caravans

If you tow a caravan take note that in Benalla, Victoria the Benalla Council has seen fit to only supply two long vehicle (caravan) parking spaces in the whole of the city. These two spaces are very frequently taken up by inconsiderate owners of passenger vehicles. The Benalla Council By-Laws Officer consonantly turns a blind eye to these transgressions thus denying those with caravans the ability to park in recognized parking spaces.
These two long vehicle parking spaces were supposed to be just for cars towing caravans. These two spots took more than ten years to obtain from the council, they have been placed in a busy car park. Not only is is quiet difficult to get into these spots, but if you do, you are then faced with at least a 300 plus meter walk to the Tourist Information building.
The Rural City of Benalla has little or no concerns for caravaners, and in fact they really do not want tourists at all, as they believe they 'are not a tourist destination'.
I have been towing caravans for more than 25 years and most towns around Australia welcome with open arms caravaners and tourists, not so Benalla.
Over the past 5 years I have been trying to talk the council into joining up the two major rail trail / bike paths in adjoining towns with one in the Rural City of Benalla, but guess what, they are not in the least interested.
So in closing for now, be warned, it is extremely difficult to park your van in Benalla and if you dare bring a bike to ride, forget it!