NSW Seniors week is celebrated this year from 14 to 22 March and we have had a bunch of senior fellows from the district who celebrated their birthdays over the last little while.

Earlier this year, Lance Cooke turned 90 years old and celebrated with a lunch organised by his daughter Rosalie and son-in-law Dennis Miller, held at Parksbourne.  Lance quipped that everyone except him got an invitation but he decided to go anyway!  Friends, neighbours and family joined him for a very pleasant time.  Incidentally he is a bit of a traveller and was seen recently up Alice Springs way attending his son’s wedding!

John Clancy invited friends and family to his 84th birthday where they enjoyed a slap up lunch at the Telegraph Hotel with a bit of singsong on the cards. A recent mention of John as a 17yo beating the gun rider at the Narromine Show left the impression that there might have been some biffo threatened from the Narromine locals.  In fact it was a member of the group John was travelling with who was much more likely to start a bit of fisticuffs!  The other interesting thing about then was that some of the horses and riders travelled from show to show by train.  Different times indeed!

Lester Bush celebrated his 80th with a quiet lunch ahead of a family day that took place at his and Myrtle’s home “Springwood” Dalton.  It was a big gathering with friends and family there to ring in the big ‘eight oh’.  The many grandchildren and great-grand-children who attended made the home ring with laughter.  Lester’s son Andrew was put on the spot for a speech that he carried out with some trepidation.  All in all a great celebration and believe it or not both Lester and Myrtle were at the Gunning Show the next day looking as fresh as daisies!

Another birthday boy is former Dalton local Tim Starr who has been a Tuross resident for 20 years and still plays golf and tennis a couple of times a week.  He was born in the old maternity hospital on Collector Road, Gunning on Gunning Show day.  The nursing staff hung a sheet on the clothes line to alert Tim’s dad Stanley that the baby had arrived.  Stanley was at the show and his stud sheep were in the middle of being judged as this news was signalled!

Tim celebrated his 90th birthday at the home of Beth and Graham Baines, Dalton.  Fifty relatives helped celebrate the birthday including his brothers Wilbur (93yo) and Ron (nearly 87yo) together with two children, eight grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.  

Happy birthday to all!

HUSH HUSH!

The knowledge gnomes are bunkered down somewhere thinking up some fiendish questions for the local Fire Brigade Trivia night on Saturday 28 March.  Although tight lipped about the questions, we have it on good authority that there will be questions for the nerd, the arty farty, the history buff, the sports tragic and everyone from the blue singlet to the blue stocking.

For a fabulous night out that will kick on from the Trivia section with live music, dancing, food and auctions, get your tickets now from either the Gunning Butcher or gunningrfs@gmail.com.

TROTS RESULTS

The recent Gunning Show harness racing program was a cracker for trainer/driver Michael Hawke with the results as follows: Race 1 (Thankyou Gunning Show Volunteers Pace) Keilor Misty trained Robbie Allport, driven Scott Hewitt; Race 2 (Di & Ross Hickey Pace) Rookie Error trained and driven by Michael Hawke; Race 3 (Clancy Contracting Pace) The Caringbah Kid trained and driven Dennis Picker; Race 4 (Walmsley Family Pace) Seventh Century trained and driven by Michael Hawke; Race 5 (Greg Heffernan Memorial Pace) Huge Attitude trained and driven by Michael Hawke.  The mini trots race was sponsored by JW O’Sullivan & Sons, Sutton.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

The meeting with five declared candidates for the NSW seat of Goulburn was well attended in Crookwell last week with some 145 people crowded into the Services Club.  Topics for the evening had been decided from questionnaires sent out beforehand and included forced amalgamations, youth employment, tourism and wind farms (and other alternative energy sources).  Other topics covered were the Rail Trail, implementation of the Gonski recommendations, update of the Sydney Canberra Corridor and the difficulties of funding Aged Care facilities.  

Organisers had been moved to set the evening up because of concerns about voter apathy and disillusionment with politics in general.  Undue influence and corruption at all levels of government were mentioned.

Although passion was shown from time to time, the careful briefing given at the outset about the format of the evening, meant that civility was maintained by the ‘boss’, Gary Kadwell.  

SYDNEY OR THE BUSH

Have you ever thought that the decisions of the state government are Sydney centric?  I found proof!  After trawling through the relevant website, a form “Request to Note Retirement Village” was filled out and despatched by email to the NSW Land & Property Information gurus.

Back came a letter that said that “In order to maintain priority, dealings are required to be lodged by hand...at Land and Property Information, Queens Square, Sydney...”.  I have been assured by those who know that even if you went to Sydney, parking is virtually impossible near Queens Square!  Further the letter continues, if anyone “...has difficulty lodging dealings in the approved manner (they) may lodge their dealings by post...”  Furthermore this was added in bold “Note: Priority cannot be guaranteed with postal lodgement”

So there you have it. Proof positive that NSW Government is Sydney centric so I hope the candidates for the seat of Goulburn take note!

POSITIVE NOTE

Not everyone is fed up with bureaucrats as one couple I know were so pleased with efficiency, speed and pleasant manner in which their various approvals were dealt with by staff of the Upper Lachlan Shire Council that they wrote in to thank them.  Since staff receive more than their share of brickbats, a nice bouquet must have been very welcome.

COMING UP

Fri 27/3 Gypsy music & George Washingmachine, Picture House Gallery 6.30-8.30pm

Sat 28/3 Dalton School Autumn Fair + Election Day BBQ

Sun 29/3 Focus Group, John Gould + Anne Stevens 2pm Court Room

Sat/Sun 4&5/4 NSW Mini Trots Championships, show/gd, 0418 433 979