March 2020

No camping, no sport

Good morning to you all,

I’m really at a loss to know where to start! While it is a very serious situation, I think if we all stick to the laid down rules and have respect for each other, we out here in the far west, and anywhere for that matter, should be quite safe.

I understand one Farm stay had a call from Crown Lands enquiring if they had any campers. The answer was ‘yes a couple on the river camps’. Then order them to go home, was the reply. It would seem no camping anywhere at all.

And definitely no parties till all hours, anywhere.

Latest news via 2WEB Bourke, ABC Broken Hill, etc.

Good morning to you all,

I said last week I would find more for you this week. Well guess what? I have!

Please see the glass half full, not half empty. We people out here in the far west, in our little and bigger towns, absolutely welcome you all to poke on out this way. Stop in at any of our towns or Farm stays. We’ve got more towns than you can poke a stick at. Stop off at our many free camping sites. As far as I know there are NO virus cases in the far west, and we prefer to keep it that way. We are going about our business and will stop and say g’day to you.

Yes, true. Almost every event planned out in this vast area has been cancelled. But that doesn’t detract from seeing our wide and varied country side. Drop in to our supermarkets and corner stores, just be thoughtful enough to think of the people coming behind you and leave something for them.

Make your travel time enjoyable by listening to our fabulous radio stations. 2WEB Bourke, covers the whole area on 585. ABC Broken Hill, on 999 in the vast outback, and transmitting in Wilcannia on 1584. Local Wilcannia River Radio,  on 101.3 FM. And there’s Broken Hill’s 2DRY FM on 107.7. So hey, you’ll be up with the latest on any of those radio stations and some really great music.

Cobar's Mega Trade Show, and more

Good morning all,

 

My apologies on behalf of our community to travellers and transport drivers who were held up here in Wilcannia for hours on Friday.

I spoke to and apologised to many and trust you will call in on us again when you’re next through so we can welcome you all. It was not our doing.

And next time through can I suggest you spend a night or two in either of our great caravan parks, Warrawong or Victory Park. Perhaps you would rather stay at one of our motels on the highway.

Take an extra day and slip up to White Cliffs, an easy hour on a bitumen road. Take a tour round the Opal town with Rob, stay a night or two in his caravan park. Drop in to our Golf Club on the way back and enjoy our fabulous Chinese restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Now while I’m boasting our little town, pop in to De at the Wilcannia Motel. She has a fantastic “pop up” book exchange, find some new reading. We also boast a “Caravan Drop Point” right on the highway, and you can top up your potable water tank when you fill with fuel at the “24 hour BP” bottom of Reid St. Heaps of small gift items at our Post Office for the taking and George runs a top Chemist shop in the main street.

You’re ready to move on? Then Topar to the west, Jo will look after you. “Neila Gaari” farm stay down the river, be pampered! Emmdale roadhouse going east, at least have a coffee!

Yes I know, I’d better move on! Cobar first, big Mega Trade Show on over there next Friday at the Bowling Club. Then bring back old memories and waltz along to their authentic “Old time Ball” at the RSL Club on Saturday 28th.

Enormous weekend in Broken Hill, hope it all went well. But you haven’t missed a thing. There’s still heaps to do and see over there. What you do is call in to the Visitor Info Centre, the team there are fantastic and will keep you busy for days. Oh and be sure to go out to the Royal Flying Doctors Base. A real eye opener for city people!

Town weir, rain, St. Pat’s Races and more

Good morning all,

Double celebrations this week. The Darling made the weir pool at 10-10 AM on Thursday and the fantastic rain, be it ever so scattered, through the week. And I really apologise to the Broken Hill area that virtually missed out but I’m sure it will fill in soon. We should have some very pleasant country for our travellers to look at through the winter months.

I must start off with a big congratulations to Mia Degoumois up at Packsaddle roadhouse. Mia was named “Woman of the Year” for the Barwon electorate, and very well deserved too.

The biggest event on the calander at the moment is the big “St. Pat’s Races” on in the Silver city next Saturday. There will definitely be a big line up of horses, and more hospitality than you can jump over. A great day of racing.

Now to compliment that, Peter and Patsy are having their usual “recovery day” Sunday out at the Silverton Pub. Have a look at the attached flyer, and wind up your week end out there relaxing to music.

Moving on to Cobar, there’s a “Megga Trade Expo” taking place at the Cobar Bowling Club on the 20th. So if you’re in that area drop in, and then why not fill in the week round Cobar, call to the Visitor’s Museum, see Sam there, she will show you a hundred things to do, and include a trip out to Mt. Grenfell, well worth it, and then it will be the next weekend (28th.) and when was the last time you escorted your wife to a genuine “Old Time Ball”? Then go along to the RSL Club in Cobar and relive those old days in style on the 28th.

Call out to Nyngan, Cobar, water under the bridge?

Good morning to you all,

Thought I’d try and be some help again for the 2020 season, which we are going to make into a great success for us all.

Now, as you may imagine, I’m starting from a flat start. Went down to Ivanhoe on Saturday for a 90th. Birthday. Caught up with heaps of old faces and wished Thel al the best on her special day. Great bunch of people in Ivanhoe, they have their next Truck Show in October 2021! So don’t get excited yet.

So you good people out there, I need you to rattle across the keyboard, and let me know what’s going on in your neck of the woods. Jenny up in Bourke, Katie in Nyngan, Sam in Cobar, and the girls in Wentworth, Jane in Deni,! Calling on all my “girlfriends”, I need to get the ball rolling.

On a broad note, we are anxiously waiting to see the water trickle under the bridge here in Wilcannia. Shame the weir is not in place. (scheduled completion Dec. 2019!!).

St. Pat’s Races are only a couple of weeks away in Broken Hill.

Now there’s quite a bit going on in April, but leave it to me and I’ll sort it out. Also, I’m far from a weather forecaster but I am told on good authority there’s some rather significant rain coming around Wednesday. So, careful on dirt roads especially the Cobb highway, and the river roads either side.