Molong Express 156 Dec 2021

Growing the Community since 1876 AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER

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THURSDAY 16 December 2021

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No one to the left... No one to the right... $2.6 & No one in the middle Million for Town Centre activation projects

Cabonne Shire will benefit from round 8 of the NSW Government Resources for Regions program with $2.6 million dollars for the Activation of Cabonne’s two population centres.

National MLA Sam Farraway announced last week that the town centres of Molong and Canowindra are set for upgrades to appeal to locals and even more tourists travelling through the central west.

The town entrances are also set to receive new signs to help travellers with their way across the region as well as adding to the character of each town.

The Election

Final counting and distribution of preferences for the Cabonne Council elections have not been finalised as we went to press and are little changed from last weeks report.

NEXT WEEK When campaign politics came to Cabonne.

Letter box drops, pamphlets, corflutes and facebook arrive in the Shire's local politics.

ONLINE Get the paper

exactly as it was printed on your phone, tablet or computer

Covid scare empties Molong CBD

by Paul Mullins

...and empties just about everywhere else.

This is the scene on a normally busy Monday morning in Bank street. Nary a soul.

Both schools shut down. Cafe's limited. Churches quiet.

Cricket and sport cancelled. But, there's plenty of toilet paper.

Will Molong come back again after the long drought, COVID lockdowns, school lockdowns, the mice plague earlier this year ... and the recent flood?.

Well, we usually do. The history books remind us that Molong always does and has and will. This time, local small business owners, retailers, cafes, hotels, clubs are pleading with locals "please shop local - we need you".

The message could not be clearer and visuals like the above can be seen (currently) any day of the week in Bank and

Gidley Streets. It's not good for the whole community.

At the same time, never before has Molong CBD seen the range of retailers, and food menus that have emerged over the past few years as Molong entrepreneurs invested and created a shopping and entertainment centre that is, in fact, a 'leader' when it comes to country town revitalisation.

Local and district schools, organisations, volunteer groups rely on the goodwill of Molong based business to support sporting groups, school groups, senior's initiatives, and all kinds of street stalls, and events.

As most traders and business owners will say when asked for financial/donation support "Of course we will" - no questions asked.

Friday night (tomorrow night from 5 p.m.) is Molong's Christmas Shopping Night. Please support your town.

Go to www.issuu.com/ molongexpress

Click on the latest issue & click Subscription for $0.75c an issue

Santa says “It’s been a tough year for kids - across the world. Well done to the families of Molong and district and school communities who battled their way through.” MCS students - kept smiling

Zara could not be happier after she received this little bundle of joy as a special surprise.

Meet new doggy in town, Zeanna, who arrived at Zara’s and has settled into her new ‘digs’ very comfortably.

TIMBER & PLUMBING SUPPLIES Mon Fri 7.30 to 5.00 Sat 8.00 to 12.00

We Deliver to You

Ph: 5325 5040 2 Bank St MOLONG 2

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

convenience store at BP Molong

Quick, Grab & Go Foods Great Coffee

Spend $50 or more in one transaction at

8

to receive

c

per litre

Supply and lay Carpet, Vinyl, Vinyl planks and laminate.

Central west area.

No job too big or small.

No charge for travel.

DISCOUNT on fuel

Cash / card only. No commercial sales. No fuel cards.

Hill St. Molong - Ph: 6366 8393

cabonnecarpets@outlook.com

(02) 6316 5482 m: 0484 259 668

Visit all our listings at www.molongre.com.au 42 Bank Street, Molong

6366 8800

Rare Investment Opportunity

This is a genuine investment opportunity consisting of 3 separate brick buildings with a total of 12 units. All fully tenanted with a great rental history. Conveniently located close to schools & a short walk to the main street shops & cafes.

• All units have 2 large bedrooms with built-in robes • Neat & tidy galley kitchen spaces • Great size lounge & dining with reverse cycle air • Upstairs bathrooms • Internal laundries • All have private court yards • Undercover parking for all units • Set on a large corner block 2687m2 • Secure asset with a good gross return with further potential to increase the rents • Potential opportunity to sell down as strata units subject to council approval.

Call Mark Howes 0427 668 800 for further details

70 Edward Street Molong

Looking to be self sufficient

If you have been looking for a vacant block to build your dream self sufficient lifestyle home on, have a look at this 23acre block. Its approximately 30 minutes from Molong & just under an hour to Orange.

It is a beautiful level block with versatile growing soils and a good seasonal creek bounding the property. There are several older style sheds in place with a great set of steel cattle yards with a crush & loading ramp.

The big bonus is the quality well that is equipped with a solar pump new plastic tank & several new concrete troughs which water the paddocks.

Contact Agent

Mark Howes 0427 668 800

75 Jobs Road Yeoval

Cottage like character If you are on the hunt for your first home or the perfect investment, this is the home for you.

This home offers three large bedrooms, all with decorative cornices giving the home a country cottage-like charm. Enjoy a newly renovated kitchen and beautiful views of Molong from the living room windows.

Located in the heart of Molong, this home is within walking distance of both schools and is just three short blocks away from Molong's main street, shops & cafes.

Contact Agent Mark Howes 0427 668 800 55 Riddell Street Molong

Molong & District’s Own Real Estate Agent

With such strong buyer enquiry, if you have been thinking of selling there is no better time than now.

If you are curious please call me.

MARK HOWES LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT 0427 668 800

42 BANK STREET, MOLONG PH: 02 6366 8800

KERRIANNE KELLY PROPERTY MANAGER 0432 649 274

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

3

The pool is back

Bri Celledoni reports that the Molong pool is back after it went under in the Floods on Friday 26 November. After some tremendous volunteer support it only took them 11 days to reopen to the public. The Pool is open once again, just in time for this warm weather we’re experiencing.Open 7 days a week from 10:30am to 6:30pm and only closed Christmas Day. Come on down and support the local pool - they’re excited to see smiling faces once again.

4

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

Flood recovery assistance available for Calare

Communities in the Calare electorate impacted by the recent storms and flooding can now apply for a short-term income support payment from the Australian Government.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is available to support individuals whose income has been affected by the severe storms and flooding which slammed the region in November.

Residents across the entire Calare electorate, which includes the Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Dubbo, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon and Orange LGAs, are welcome to apply if their income has taken a hit due to the extreme wet weather events in November.

In total, residents from 48 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in New South Wales, and 18 LGAs in Queensland, are eligible to receive the income support.

Member for Calare and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Andrew Gee, said large parts of the Central West have been seriously impacted by the severe flooding and storm damage, and encouraged residents to lodge a claim for assistance.

“The Central West has been well and truly soaked this past month, causing rainfall records to tumble right across the region,” Minister Gee said.

“Bathurst had its wettest November in 164 years, while Orange’s 152-year-old record was swept away.

“Eugowra recorded its soggiest November in half a century and Mudgee in at least 26 years, while Wellington and Oberon hadn’t seen downpours like those throughout November in about a decade. Newbridge in Blayney Shire recorded 242mm for the month – the

highest by 100mm since recording began 10 years ago.

“Floodwaters inundated low-lying parts of the region, forcing local residents to stay home and protect their property, and in some cases, even cut them off from leaving the area completely.

Businesses were forced to close early to prepare for the flooding event and were out of action during the clean-up.

“The Australian Government is committed to helping locals get back on their feet.

“I’m urging local residents whose hip pockets took a hit due to the severe storms to apply for the new Disaster Recovery Allowance provided by the Federal Government.

“The Disaster Recovery Allowance provides a shortterm income support payment to assist individuals whose income has been affected because of this disastrous event.

“The Allowance is available for up to 13 weeks, equivalent to the maximum rate of the Jobseeker Payment or Youth Allowance.

“The easiest and fastest way to claim is over the phone, by calling the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66 from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

“If you’ve been affected by recent floods in New South Wales and Queensland and are repaying a Centrelink debt, Services Australia is able to help. To provide immediate assistance, the Australian Government is pausing all Centrelink debt raising and new debt recovery in the affected Local Government Areas.”

Claims for DRA can be made to Services Australia from Tuesday 14 December 2021.

Check your eligibility at www.servicesaustralia.gov. au/disaster

Letters 9 December’s “Town talk” column Last week’s edition of the “Town Talk” column certainly invites response to the author, Rozzi’s stinging assessment of the generation born in 1940’s & 50’s Australia. Certainly it has its faults.

However, is it fair to single out that generation above other generations? A look at today’s onscreen advertisements shows that the generations born since are just as guilty of entertaining and consuming themselves to death.

History reveals the faults of previous generations before the 1940’s. In Australia around the early 1900’s the dreadful policy of removing Aboriginal children from their parents was developed and implemented. We are still paying for, and will continue to pay for that dreadful blot on our record.

If you go back pre 1807, slavery was a national institution: nations had laws to regulate it.

Then make a big jump back to Roman occupied Palestine. The people of the time questioned the increasingly noteworthy teacher/rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth about two mass tragedies. One was a military massacre of civilians, the other a worksite disaster. In reply Jesus asked them, “Do you think they were more guilty than everyone else that such disaster fell on them? I tell you, no! But unless you repent you too will all perish.”

(The account can be found in Luke Chapter 13.)

Jesus went on to prove that he is the one God sent for us. He was publicly executed but 3 days later was raised to life. He is therefore the authority on good & evil, guilt & innocence. He points to the source of all this evil in each generation (from Mark Chapter 7): “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

We see that every generation, even every person is equally guilty. However, at Christmas, God announced that there is hope for the guilty.

At Jesus’ birth, God intervened directly in the world. Jesus’ public execution was God’s plan to overcome evil. His bloodshed is the atoning sacrifice for each person’s offence. It takes away our offence and reconciles us to God. It is ordained by God and beyond our ability to fully comprehend. But it shows the extent of Jesus’ love for each man, woman and child. Will you accept what He has done on your behalf and have peace with God this Christmas?

Dougal Pottie, Molong

View from the Hill

Michelle Grattan

Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Albanese is ending the year well but has plenty of challenges ahead A week after Anthony Albanese announced his climate blueprint, Labor has every reason to believe the most difficult policy it will launch for the coming election has parachuted to a safe landing.

The government has brought out the predictable attacks, but there is no sign of a knock-out hit.

Anyway, going too hard is risky, when moderate Liberals are facing campaigns from community independents focused on climate policy.

Labor’s 43% mediumterm emissions reduction target isn’t scarily ambitious; the modelling is holding its own in the debate among the wonks; and the backing of business and high state targets undercut the Coalition’s arguments.

Moreover, opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen is more than a match for his opposite number, Angus Taylor.

After Labor’s disastrous 2019 experience, when he was shadow treasurer, Bowen copped a good share of blame, including from some caucus colleagues. He has a lot to prove this time. His early performances on the climate policy have been strong and feisty.

Of course it’s first days for the policy, which has its vulnerabilities, and it will go down differently in various electorates. But avoiding a crash landing was no small thing – that could have soured Labor’s year end, overshadowing Scott Morrison’s troubles.

Now Albanese is finishing 2021 in as good a place as he could have hoped.

Let’s say immediately that doesn’t mean Labor can be confident of an election win. It only means it looks seriously competitive.

Largely this is thanks to two factors: the traps Albanese has avoided – he has not allowed the opposition to be wedged – and the government’s falling into nearly every possible hole, many of which it has dug itself.

As well, keeping policies back (partly tactical, partly forced by COVID) has preserved a relatively blank canvas for Labor to write on in the election run-up.

Elections at their core are two-horse contests dominated by the leaders. Albanese will never sparkle but he has recently improved his performance and spruced up the way he presents.

At Sunday’s Sydney rally, with new glasses and a sharp suit, he looked more race-fit than all year. Yes, all that is superficial and personal, but in these image-conscious days, such things matter at the margin. They are small signs of effort.

Morrison might wish he could improve his image by attending to the superficial. He has some fundamental problems that are very difficult for him and his strategists to overcome in the next few months.

By his own actions and words, Morrison has trashed much of his credibility, allowing Labor to portray him as a “liar”, which it now does day in and day out.

Beyond that, the Coalition has been mired in scandal, controversy and sheer untidiness. This currently ranges

from minister Alan Tudge being investigated over an alleged violent incident to the much-publicised, clumsy but unsuccessful courting of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian to run for Warringah.

Next week’s budget update might provide the government with a dash of Christmas cheer, but it won’t eclipse its shocking end to the parliamentary year.

While Morrison and his team have handed the opposition plenty of opportunities in the past months, Albanese’s challenges in the months ahead are formidable.

The Labor leader remains relatively unknown to many people. Imprinting him (favourably) on voters’ consciousness between now and the poll won’t be easy.

He’s not a big, distinctive, compelling personality. Nor is he a fresh face – he was deputy prime minister a long time ago, not that most voters will remember.

He tells his “log cabin” story – being brought up by a single mum in straitened circumstances – but in a selfcentred age, how many people listen or care? The best two things going for him at a personal level are that people don’t dislike him, and that they have become dubious about Morrison (to say nothing of Barnaby Joyce).

Albanese needs to stymie the government’s attempts to portray him as weak, or a potential patsy of the Greens – and to do this while avoiding sounding shrill or desperate.

As well as projecting himself, Albanese will need to stay firmly on message and keep that message tight (rather than waffly as is his wont). He’s been disciplined to date, but campaigning for months is exhausting and mistakes can be magnified a hundredfold.

Labor will also be vulnerable to “scares” and other negative tactics against it. These can be potent, even devastating. Think Labor’s Mediscare in 2016. Think Clive Palmer’s advertising in 2019 (and he’s still around, with money to burn).

In the age of social media, “scares” are particularly dangerous and insidious, and hard to counter.

For example, Labor may successfully neutralise attacks on its climate policy in the national campaign, but in certain areas (in the Hunter, central Queensland) it could be undermined by scares delivered via social media and by impossible-to-trackdown players. We saw this with the scare run in 2019 that Labor would bring in a death tax.

If Morrison holds out for a May election preceded by a budget, Albanese will have to deal with the campaign field being rearranged weeks out

from the finish line.

Although bringing down a budget just before the start of the formal campaign might carry some risk for the government (it didn’t work well in 2016, but did in 2019), it would position the battle squarely on the Coalition’s strong ground of the economy and force the opposition into quick reactions.

Albanese would deliver the traditional budget reply, which would have to contain at least one big-ticket item and be pitched just right.

One hurdle confronting Albanese in his quest to persuade voters to swing could be their inertia, a lack of impetus for change, especially if the economic outlook is encouraging. Then there is the unpredictability of COVID’s course in early 2022.

With 2021 drawing to its end, the government is worried about how damaged Morrison is, while Labor is nervous that he remains a ruthless, relentless opponent.

No one is putting great store in the polls that show Labor ahead on a two-party basis, although not massively so.

The fashionable speculation among the commentariat is about the possibility of a hung parliament.

As for the electorate, people are exhausted after two years of COVID. For many, the last thing they want to do is engage with the fractious, accusatory discourse of politicians.

At some point, however, they must make choices.

Morrison and Albanese are campaigning as though those choices are tomorrow, but many voters will hang off until the last moment. As people do with so much in the age of COVID. (the conversation.com.au)

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

5

Local Rugby players turn into “Golfers” for the Cancer Council

Molong Magpies Rugby players who turned into “Golfers” for the day last weekend said they signed up for The Longest Day for the challenge, to make a positive difference for those in the community who have been affected by cancer.

The Rugby club said that the “The Longest Day sounded like a real challenge, so they thought they would combine an xmas get together with some golf for a good cause. It was a great day out and we’re hoping to raise as many dollars as possible for Cancer Council.” So much has been happening in Molong, so any support for this worthwhile cause is greatly appreciated as so many of our community have been touched

by Cancer.

Fiona Cooper, Community Relations Coordinator from Cancer Council’s Western Region community thanked the Molong Magpies for their efforts in participating in the Day. A Great roll out and fun day out was had and there was much talk and recruiting for a big 2022 for the Magpies, plus plenty of friendly banter.

“As a result of the economic impacts of the coronavirus, there will be less funding available for vital cancer research, prevention programs, and information and support services. But thanks to the generosity of the Molong Community we can continue to support people impacted by cancer. It is the support of people like these Rugby players (golfers) that allows us to continue Cancer Council NSW own two local vehicles in Orange and two in Dubbo in which local

The He ritage

volunteers transport eligible patients up to 200km from Orange and also Dubbo. Cancer Patients are picked up from their home, transported to their cancer related treatment and then returned safely home again. This program is provided by Volunteer drivers.

“In the Molong region alone, it is estimated that approximately two in three Molong people (2 in 3 men and 3 in 5 women) will develop some form of skin cancer before the age of 70. Over 440,000 Australians are treated for skin cancer and more than 2000 Australians die each year from skin cancer, but this doesn’t need to be the case. Fiona Cooper said.

“As predominantly most of the Molong community due to the nature of the agricultural industry it supports the majority of people spend extended periods of time out in the sun, we want to remind all participants to use sun protection to reduce their skin cancer risk.

“Across NSW, UV levels are high enough to require sun protection for most of the year, so we encourage golfers to keep sun-safe and slip, slop, slap, seek and slide, not only on The Longest Day, but each and every day.

If you would like to donate to The Longest Day, please go to The Longest day web site www. longestday.org.au and select “Find a friend” and type in ‘Molong Rugby Club” and assist them in their act of kindness in supporting a cancer free future.

Co

okboo ecipes fr k om Molo ng and Distr ict

Family R

6 MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

Just Arrived!

Available at the Express, Rumour Has It, 17 Shades, Eden Giftwares.

More next Week

“Fishos” year end on brighter note

While the circumstances of the past year didn’t see many fish caught, the beloved Molong Fishing Club (20+ years old) held their AGM and get together last Saturday at the Freemasons.

The club has raised $ thousands for restocking fingerlings into our rivers and creeks over the years.

But that did not stop them from honouring Mick Fitzgerald and George Betts as Senior & Junior Club members of the year.

(Pictured left with Shane Harvey).

Shane stepped up again as President with some valuable new ideas for the club’s future - to be taken onboard in the new year.

Hayden completes Ten4Ten Leadership

Last week marked the end of the TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue at Hive Orange which Molong Central School student, Hayden Bliss and Mentor Hamish Munro from Pairtree were involved in. (Photo left) R e g i o n a l Development Australia Central West (RDA Central West) recently celebrated the second year of the TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue with a breakfast and presentation at Hive Orange.

The program partnered ten Year 11 students from Orange, Molong, Canowindra, and Blayney, with ten local community leaders for a unique mentoring experience.

RDA Central West CEO, Wayne Sunderland, said despite the challenges everyone faced in 2021 due to COVID-19, the program was a great success.

“It was fantastic to get together at Hive Orange to celebrate the program and see the partnerships and friendships that have formed between the students and mentors,” said Mr Sunderland.

“Mentoring can play an important role in someone’s personal and professional journey and the TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue was also a good support network for the students as they navigated new restrictions, remote learning and

lockdown.”

“Although some of the activities we had planned unfortunately couldn’t go ahead due to COVID-19, the understanding, engagement and positivity demonstrated by the students was impressive.”

“The students are wonderful ambassadors of their school and community and are exemplary youth leaders. The future of the Central West is bright, and in good hands!”

“It is wonderful to see our community leaders volunteer their time, expertise, support and advice to the next generation.”

The TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue was delivered in 2021 thanks to the support of the NSW Government, Orange City Council, Blayney Shire Council and Cabonne Council.

The Express year - part one 1 x $2 coin helps to build your community

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Banjo's Molong Pub Poetry Brawl a HUGE success

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Commonwealth Bank to close

... and the whole town turned up

You are here Your bank's going here

The winning Brawl poems P9

More on mice

Just look at those laughing above!

Congratulations to local organisers led by Jude Taylor who decided to place Molong on the map of the annual Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival with what turned out to be an outrageous, welcoming, good hearted fun night of poetry competitors who positively released themselves out of their long-time comfort zones to write, recite, and act out their tributes to the Aussie poet, story-

teller, writer, war correspondent - during last weekend's Molong Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival. Held at Kim and Dave Stojanov's Freemason's Hotel - (with COVID requirements met) could the night have been any better? "NOOOO" was the response from the audience representing the towns and villages of Cabonne Country, Orange, Sydney, Queensland who travelled to town for the event. See P.9 and videos on Molong Express facebook

P7 Pages of news and features from all over

by Paul Mullins

Every town either has, or certainly needs, a person like Yeoval's Alf Cantrell - and his wife Sharon.

Last Wednesday they turned up in their hundreds to see Alf unveil his latest "Big Thing", a three-metre-high bronze statue of Banjo Paterson.

Standing in front of Alf and Sharon's landmark "Banjo Patterson - more than a Poet" Museum in Yeoval, the statue balances the "Big Banjo Patterson Hat" in the park across the road. The hat itself sits near the large abstract bronze sculpture of famed english sculptor Henry Moore. Alf orchestrated the acquisition of this sculpture back in 2010.

Last Wednesday, in front of around 500 people, the bronze Banjo was unveiled (unwrapped more like it) with pomp and ceremony by Ian "Macca" McNamara, legendary ABC Sunday morning "Australia All Over" broadcaster. It would have been the poet's 157th birthday.

Alf raised funds for the sculpture including gaining a $7,500 grant under the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Program.

Banjo is depicted in his uniform of Major of the Allied Remount Station in Egypt during the First World War. The statue stands between two centuryold flag poles.

Telegraph to get $.5m facelift

Molong's Telegraph hotel is about to undergo a major redevelopment.

In a project of a size not seen in the Bank St business hub for many years, some $1/2m is being invested to add over 100% additional bar/bistro area and a massive covered outdoor deck at the rear.

This comes following the complete rebuilding of the Hotel's front verandah.

The drive-through lane and old keg room will disappear and be converted to additional bar and bistro facilities.

A new bar will service the popular beer garden. This will almost double in size, and with the children's play area, raised to a single level.

The development will transform not only the interior of

Sweetness Cafe to feature Molong in upcoming national ad campaign

the hotel but also the street frontage. New entry doors and windows will replace the driveway tunnel and the old keg room frontage.

The new entry will be ramped and recessed thus preserving a link to the drive through entrance that stood there for decades.

The last major fit-out in Bank St was the new H Hardware store.

Area to be added

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6

BANK People power needed Page 5

features and info

News & goings on Page 4 & 6

During his address Mr Gee noted: “My grandmother was a Bernados child and my family knows only too well that the story of child migration to Australia is often one of tragedy, heartbreak, violence, cruelty and an abrogation of state responsibility towards vulnerable children.

But through all of that, there are also stories of personal triumph; stories of how children who came to Australia with absolutely nothing, were sent to places like Fairbridge, and went on to build lives and futures and make an enormous contribution to local communities and to our nation.

A part of this story is how 95 Fairbridge boys went on to serve their country in the armed forces, three of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. This service and sacrifice is part of the Fairbridge story. It is therefore very fitting that the names of those former students appear on this memorial, so that future generations will always remember where they came from and what they did in our country’s name. We must never forget them.”

Derek Moriarty, veterans Sydney Lee, John Barron, Ian 'Smiley' Bayliff ,Tony Stepney and Graham Lee officially opened the memorial.

MOLONG

Molong Recreation Ground Breakfast from 8.30 Stalls from 9.00

VILLAGEMarch: The landmark Fairbridge Huge Variety of Stalls Market stalls • Artisan Products MARKETS Children’s Park completed • Food • Gifts • Produce Theme / Dress Black & White

Easter Monday

Something for Everyone FUN FOR ALL !

5 April

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Farewell Ron Crockett, Rob Burgess P10

Cudal / Manildra School news & photos P2

Work starts on Community Centre ...

The future of the recycling point on Betts Street Molong could be in jeopardy if residents and business owners continue to dump rubbish in the area.

The service is under review following the dumping of a large amount of rubbish in the area in recent months.

The bank of approximately 20 yellow-lid recycling bins are provided by council as a service to Molong’s rural ratepayers to give these residents access to a recycling point without having to drive to one of the Council’s waste management facilities.

It has been noted that often the material deposited at the recycling bin site has been generated by local business premises. However, the intent of the service is to assist rural residents who are seeking the opportunity to contribute to recycling.

The bins are serviced weekly by contractor J.R. Richards, however Council staff have been forced to clean up the site repeatedly after rubbish has been left beside the bins.

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Aussie's contributed $$$'s as loans to Govt for the WW2 war effort - paid back after the

war had ended.

in prayer and meaningful silence to remember all of Australia's wartime efforts - and those who served.

"They left our shores for adventure, a sense of involvement, of contributing to the safety and freedom that we enjoy in Australia today."

INSIDE

"Pirate Day" at Manildra

The bins are provided for recycling items only. Items must be placed in a bin – any recyclables left beside a bin will not be collected by J.R. Richards. Please refer to the list below for items that can be placed in these bins: CAN BE PLACED IN BINS Paper and cardboard Glass bottles and jars Plastics (marked 1-7) Newspaper and junk mail Envelopes Tin and aluminium cans Clean foil and pie trays Empty aerosol cans Milk and juice cartons Corrugated paper cups Cabonne residents can recycle materials for free at any of Council’s six waste transfer stations located at Canowindra, Cargo, Cumnock, Eugowra, Manildra and Yeoval.

Anzac Day Events P4 & 14

Local Anzac Day Features & stories plus

Contractors erect fencing around the old house, Mitchell Room and Molong Community Hall prior to demolition

In anticipation of the construction of the eagerly awaited Cabonne Community Centre, preparation works have commenced at the Community Hall site in Bank Street.

The Cabonne Community Centre has been jointly funded, with the NSW Government and State Library NSW contributing towards the project.

The aim of the Cabonne Community Centre is to deliver an expanded, accessible, and modern community building.

A design by enquiry process began in November 2019, with workshops held in December 2019, February 2020 and April 2020.

An architectural design of the Community Centre was rendered following the community consultation process.

The space will incorporate: • Community hall facilities to allow for public meetings and community functions.

• A library facility with capacity for meetings, study, technology connection and delivery of community-centric programs.

• An exhibition area integrated with the public space.

Commercial kitchen for

providing catering for community activities.

The tender for the project was awarded to Joss Constructions earlier this year, with local trades encouraged to contact the prospective tenderers in January 2021.

The project includes demolition of the existing building and a rebuild to provide safe and userfriendly access and facilities to all members of the community. The project is being managed by the Public Works Advisory.

Construction is due to commence in June, with works taking place between the hours of 7am to 5pm each day, Monday to Saturday.

The program of works is: • Demolition – June 2021 • Earthworks – July 2021 • Structure erection – August 2021 to December 2021 • Internal fit-out – January 2022 to April 2022 • Expected completion of project – May 2022 The works are not expected to impact on surrounding residential or business areas, but Council will endeavour to advise the public of any changes to the program of works if they occur.

It was Pirate Day at Manildra Public School - See Page 2.

...and the tank starts to glow

May: Demolition starts for $6m Commmunity Centre

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Late News

The Mitchell Highway passing through Molong has come alive with the painting of colourful murals representing part of the town's history and the wonderful bird life and flora for which this area is known. Keep an eye on this exciting achievement of growMOLONG as the artists continue their work.

(More reports, Mayors' reaction page 2)

Water Tank P2

World Bee Day P 10

CSIRO Arms Local Farmers to “Know Their Enemy” at Molong Workshop

By Emily Gobourg Led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has invested in new research, enabling farmers to access double-strength increases of zinc phosphide (ZnP) mouse baits; a crucial necessity to overpower the above-average mouse numbers spreading across Eastern Australia.

For the benefit of agriculture in Australia, the evidencebased research showed the ZnP-coated wheat bait – an in-crop rodenticide for the management of broad-scale mice damage – would help grain growers fight the relentless vermin during the State’s relentless mouse plague.

The new emergency permit, approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority (APVMA), will allow farmers to increase the chances of mice consuming a lethal dose in a single feed; doubling the ordinary dosage of 25 mg/kilogram of ZnP active concentrate per wheat grain, to 50 mg/kg ZnP per grain.

Mouse expert Steve Henry, Senior Researcher at CSIRO, explained how rapidly the mice had developed an aversion to the usual single-dose bait, and said it was now critical that every grain carry a lethal dose upon consumption.

“If the bait is under strength – then they’ve gone and eaten other things, scurried around, and what not – by that time, they’ve identified the belly ache with that first bait - and they won’t eat the second,” Henry explained.

“One of my colleagues calls it ‘the dodgy curry effect’ – if you go out, you have some food, and then you come home and feel sick – you’re not going back to that restaurant again for quite some time.”

In response to the increasing prevalence of mice in many key grain-growing regions of Australia, The GRDC has also said they recognise the enormity of the mouse

Steve Henry, Senior Researcher at CSIRO at last Friday's workshop (Emily Gobourg) problem, and acknowledge “the severe impact it has on growers’ businesses, their families, their communities and the broader industry. - and will inject a further $4.1 million into mouse control research, development and extension (RD&E) initiatives.”

A recent announcement from the NSW Government will also see the rollout of a $50 million support package for farmers, small businesses, and households, with the goal of helping regional communities increase combat against the vermin plague.

As part of the recent Government initiative, a series of mouse control workshops have Mr Henry travelling to problematic mouse areas across the State, where his workshops will provide education and mouse-combative knowledge to farmers; outlining practical strategies to reduce mice numbers leading up to sowing, how to optimise the protection of their crops during sowing, and, how to control incrop mouse numbers as ongoing.

Presented by Central Tablelands Landcare, and Little River Landcare, local farmers attended one of the mice control workshops in Molong, in a desperate bid to collect additional rodent mitigation tips from the mouse expert himself.

Preceded by years of drought, followed by droughtbreaking rainfall, has given mice the perfect rural environment to take advantage of increase and extension, in terms of seasonal breeding, litter numbers, food and shelter resources; and while many thought the wet conditions may have wiped a lot of vermin out, Henry explained how the excellent survivors simply took to higher ground, and reaped the benefits thereafter.

“Monumental rain just prior to Easter didn’t take them out… they’re very good survivors,” Henry explained.

“There’s been a high level of offspring survival because of the wet climatic conditions, and while they’re feeding, they’re gestating – so there’s no real break in production.”

“When conditions are favourable, the rate of increase is dramatic; and in six to nine weeks, you’ve got a monumental problem.”

Henry said that after the beautiful, moist and mild summer, the concern is that the mice will now continue breeding through autumn, and into the winter season.

(Continued Page 4)

AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER

THURSDAY 19 August 2021

Ph: (02) 6366 8017

Email: molongex@bigpond.net.au www.molongexpress.com.au

Lockdown Reading

Covid case in Molong

Delightful story for all ages from Elyne Mitchell's ("Man from Snowy River) SILVER BRUMBY series

this week.

Covid-19 testing clinics were reinstated at the Molong Railway Station on Tuesday and will remain for the rest of the week.

P9 - 10

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Our local health workers' quick response in awful weather

Operation STAY AT HOME comes to Molong

Cr Paul Mullins surrounded by the wonderful NSW Health Covid testing team who stood in extreme weather conditions on Saturday and Sunday making sure local residents had access to the important service.

(L to R) Krystal (Molong), Deb (Molong), Liam (Orange), Tasha (Orange), Tasha (Orange), Shelley (Molong).

Well done to the Cabonne Council team who helped to set up the service - first at the Rec. Grounds - and then to a drier and warmer location at the Railway Station.

Cabonne Council's after hours team delivered two large outdoors heaters, tea and coffee each day to the thankful testing team.

INSIDE

Molong's HealthOne team members have been kept busy delivering the covid-19 'jab' to thankful town and district residents.

"Congratulations" said smiling practice nurse, Kate Toynton to each resident after they had received their jab.

'Jab' receivers had no complaints aboutthe service with one townie commenting "Like others in the community - I wasn't that keen to have the vaccination - but I'm glad I did. I think we all have a responsibility to protect our own health and that of others.

Above : Ann Currall (Molong) and Mrs Sharpless (Manildra) receiving final instructions from Kate Toynton.

New life for historic Molong Landmark P9

July: Covid arrives - and comesMe and My Friend, Quinnie back later

On top of this a confirmed COVID-19 case that travelled to Blayney and Parkes last week to deliver pet food supplies.

Blayney residents were told to travel to Orange and Bathurst to get tested for COVID-19.

The Molong removalist visitors have been charged and are expected to appear in Orange District Court on August 30.

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Some of the attendees at last Friday's workshop (Emily Gobourg)

by Paul Mullins

Molong might have dodged a Covid bullet last week.

That goes for Orange and our local villages too - where we go quite often.

Four removalists, making a delivery to a house in Speedy Street were apprehended by police last Friday.

The Police had been tipped off that one of the men had been tested positive for Covid-19.

The removalists allegedly knew this, had been told to stay home and isolate, but came here anyway They may face 6 months jail time said the NSW Police Minister David Elliott.

Police say they established that the men had travelled from West Hoxton to Figtree, before travelling to Molong, stopping in regional areas including South Bowenfels and Orange along the way - including the North Orange MacDonalds' drive-through.

Police escorted the men and their vehicles back to Sydney.

While it appears that the men did not visit any other Molong locations or businesses local Health authorities reacted quickly and immediately set up Covid-19 testing clinics at the Molong Rec. on Saturday and at the Railway Station on Sunday - with a gratifying response from locals and visitors.

NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he was troubled by this significant breach of the Public Health Orders.

“This thoughtless act has now placed our regional communities in NSW at the greatest risk so far with this pandemic,” Elliott said.

Moreover, the mother of two of the removalists was found dead on Monday morning and was later confirmed as a COVID-19 case.

THURSDAY 20 May 2021

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THURSDAY 22 July 2021

Molong might have dodged a Covid bullet

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May: The mice, the mice

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The Express was advised (Tuesday) just before going to press - that a Molong resident has tested positive for COVID-19.

Unknowing that they were positive, the resident had been active in Molong, Orange and Blayney over three days

Andrew Gee, Member for Calare

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Facing jail?

Kevin Beatty, Cabonne Mayor

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Mice Plague in Rural NSW

AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER

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“The banks like to advertise what a great friend they are to Australian communities.

Unfortunately, it seems the friendship comes to an end when branches aren’t as profitable as they would like them to be.

NEWS & FEATURES SPECIAL

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Gee calls on Bank "to do better" P4 Obituaries

Where will you be on ANZAC Day? Australian families lived in fear of invasion. This Aussie family checking Wherever you intend to be out their family built air raid shelter in please stop at 11.00 a.m. and the backyard. offer one minute's silence as our nation remembers the young men and women who signed up to serve King, Queen and Country in wartime battles. The families and communities of this region said many goodbyes at railway stations and public hall farewells to brave local men and women who saw the need to protect not only the Australian coastlines and airspace also other countries suffering at the hands of invaders.

Some of ours returned, some did not, some returned forever with limbs missing, bullet injuries, post traumatic stress disorder, after witnessing scenes of horror that brought about a lifetime of sleepless nights and days, alcoholism, family breakdowns, and individual disabilities in facing life, as it was, again.

Some returned encased in a body and mind that so that we, you, your family continue to respect had no relevance to the 'home' they remembered. the brave hearts who never gave up on us nor Let's come together as a community, your their community. community to stand together in prayer and silence Please participate on Sun. 25 April @ 11 a.m. at to remember, to never forget - the sacrifices made the Molong Cenotaph and at the same time in your town or village at the local cenotaph to stand

The Federal MP

The Commonwealth Bank is ... the last bank branch across all of Cabonne.

The communities are still recovering from one of the worst droughts in memory and the COVID pandemic.

Now the Commonwealth Bank is walking away from already hurting communities...

AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER

ANZAC Day : Do we remember?

Rubbish dumpers put future of Molong recylcing bins in jeopardy

(Left) Andrew Gee addresses the gathering before laying a wreath of remembrance.

(Above) A series of panels names and recalls the story of the veterans.

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Pages of local news,

Fairbridge another chapter written

Another chapter of the Fairbridge Farm School was written last Saturday with the opening and dedication of the Fairbridge Military Memorial on the Fairbridge Children's Park site near Molong.

Ninety-five children, almost ten percent of those who were at Fairbridge, later served in the Australian armed forces in both war and peace operations.

Fifty-nine of them served overseas during World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan ‘Emergency’ and the Vietnam War. Three were killed while in serviceCharlie Brown, Mickey Mitchell and Christopher Redfern. Very few farms in Australia have made such a significant contribution to the defence and security of the nation.

More than 900 British children were sent to Australia without their parents from 1938-1974 to live and work at Fairbridge.

A warm "welcome to country" was given by Brad Bliss and Elder Aunty Josephine, followed by addresses

by Derek Moriarty (President Old Fairbridgians Association), Jamie Jones, Cabonne Deputy Mayor, RSL Representatives and Federal Member for Calare Mr Andrew Gee.

THURSDAY 22 April 2021

Ph: (02) 6366 8017

Norm Swift, Regional General Manager

The Mayor

Sweetness Cafe Live Music March: The only full service Neil Gill THIS FRI bank branch in Cabonne shuts

Following a recent review, we made the difficult decision to permanently close the Molong branch. This branch has had a 45% drop in transactions over the past five years.

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Full statements, page 4

Australian politics DON'T Is Sky News shifting to turns the right?

February: Yeoval out for P5 MISS Banjo Patterson TV shows you didn’t like P10

Existing bar area

in delivering great service, many of our customers are increasingly choosing to use our online channels for their banking. ... We’ve also found that 15% of customers from Molong are already visiting the Orange branch. ... Additionally, the Molong LPO Australia Post outlet a block down the road is available for customers to conduct personal and business banking transactions such as withdrawals, deposits and bill payments including passbooks during normal business hours." STATEMENTS PAGE 4. DONATO P5.

The reaction ... what they said:

P7

February: The poetry brawl and the top pub kick off a promising year

Ph: (02) 6366 8017

The Commonwealth Bank has announced that the Molong and Blayney branches of the bank will close on Friday 4 June. This will also be the last day that the Commonwealth ATM will operate. The decision has elicited an angry reaction across all sectors of the community. Businesses and locals will have to travel 35km to Orange to access banking and fee free ATM facilities.

In a statement to the Molong Express Norm Swift, the bank's Regional General Manager said ... "While we recognise branches play an important role

(Left: Alf and Sharon Cantrell, Ian and Kel McNamara and Caddie Marshall of Orange 360 at the unveiling)

The Express' youngest reporter, Alizé, talks with her friend P.8

Hanrahan Cup P6

Operation STAY AT HOME has commenced across all of New South Wales including Molong.

On Tuesday morning local and Central West Police District police established an RBT checkpoint adjacent to the Molong Recreation Ground. The checkpopint was also engaged in checking licences to ensure compliance and reenforce the stay at home message.

A permit system to enter regional NSW from Greater Sydney local government areas will be introduced this Saturday.

The Molong checkpoint is clearly designed to detect unauthorised travel from Dubbo and local government areas further West which have been listed as "areas of concern".

Up to 8pm on Monday there were 18 new cases Covid-19 identified in our Western NSW Local Health District. Sixteen were in Dubbo and two in Bourke.

Up to 8pm on Monday there were 116 active cases of Covid-19 in the LHD - 107 in Dubbo, four in Walgett, three in Mudgee, and two in Bourke.

There are now 65 venues of concern that have been identified across WNSWLHD, 56 of these are in Dubbo, four are in Mudgee, two are in Orange, two are in Bathurst and one is in Walgett.

The Orange venues include the Byng Street Cafe on Sunday, August 8 from 12.50pm to 1.10pm and the Village Bakehouse on Sunday, August 8, from 10:50am to 12:10pm.

Western NSWLHD's Scott McLachlan is reported as saying "We're not clear on if that was a traveller or who it is. Our contact tracing teams have obviously identified someone who was in those facilities. There's certainly not an active case that's in Orange."

Virus fragments have been detected in sewage samples taken from Bourke and Parkes on Friday 13 August, Walgett on Thursday 12 August, Bathurst, Parkes and Dubbo on Wednesday 11 August, and Bourke on Tuesday 10 August.

The lockdown "stay at home" rules allow you to leave home with "a reasonable excuse" i.e. if you need to • obtain food or other goods and services locally • leave home to go to work if - you cannot reasonably work from home and - the business is allowed to be open

• leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home • exercise and take outdoor recreation within your local government area or, if you need to cross into another local government area, stay within 5km of your home • go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.

You can travel up to 5kms from your home, even if it takes you outside your LGA. You can also travel anywhere within your LGA. If you need to buy essential goods and services that are not available locally, you may travel beyond your LGA or further than 5kms.

Increased fines up to $5,000 have been introduced for Public Health Order breaches.

Please stay at home unless you need to leave for an essential reason. If you must leave home, stay within your local area.

Member for Orange Philip Donato MP on Monday urged the communities in the Orange electorate and broader Regional NSW to exercise COVID-vigilance and adhere to health order restrictions as country NSW endures lockdown.

“The highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has spread beyond the Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong regions, and now propagating in some rural and regional communities,” Mr Donato said.

“Cases of COVID-19 have now been detected throughout the Central West, including Bathurst and Mudgee. Traces of the virus have now also been identified in the sewage at other townships, which now includes Parkes.

“The neighbouring electorate of Dubbo is of great concern as cases there escalate which, if uncontained, may detrimentally impact the broader region where an already under resourced medical service may struggle to cope with.

“The spread of Delta across the regions is in part due to failure of an element of society who disregard health order restrictions, which are in place to help prevent the spread of the virus", Mr Donato said.

The current lockdown is not guaranteed to end as scheduled this weekend. A decision will be made by Friday.

Keeping Molong safe ... (above) Cabonne Council General Manager, Brad Byrnes with Superintendent Steve Kentwell, Commander of the Central West District and Chief Inspector, Peter Atkins (Orange) at Tuesday's Operation STAY AT HOME RBT checkpoint in Molong.

August: Covid - a portent of things to come Senior Constable Dean Squire (and Lock-Up Keeper, Molong) assisting with Tuesday's STAY AT HOME RBT Checkpoint in Molong.

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

7

Our local kids have had a challenging year- but they remain positive focussing on a new year coming up

Bank Street became even more glamorous last week with Year 10 students holding their ‘end of year 10’ formal. The Express was most impressed with the beautiful dresses and accessories this group of Year 10 young ladies wore. Well done to Year 10’s

Congratulations to Jim Bloomfield and Charlotte McDouall who are our K-6 School Captains for 2022. They will be supported by Vice Captains Ned Harris and Hannah Wilson.

Trying out BIG school for the first time ... these two young locals were happy to sit together and draw and paste. 2022 - they will be off to the Molong Central School with many hopes and aspirations.

Bank St MOLONG

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8 MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

Specials available Wednesday 15 December to Tuesday 28 December 2021

Andrew GEE MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CALARE

Merry Christmas!

Droughts, bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, snowstorms, a mouse plague, a freak tornado… and now floods. The past few years have certainly put the character of constituents in the Calare electorate to the test, and 2021 was no different.

No matter the challenge, residents in our region always respond with hope, heart and plain old hard yakka. This year, the strength of our country communities has been supported by a wealth of funding. Some bigticket items in Calare were given the go-ahead to ensure residents will benefit for generations to come.

When the Delta variant made its way to Western NSW, residents came out in force to get the jab at dozens of pop-up vaccination clinics run by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Thanks to these ADF hubs, by mid-September the Central West had the strongest vaccine uptake in Australia! More than 55,000 jabs were delivered during the 10 week program.

In my position as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, having stepped into the role in July, I had the privilege of meeting and thanking many members of the ADF deployed to our region, including at the Molong clinic (pictured). When the history of this pandemic in our area is written it will be the ADF pop-up clinics that will be seen as the turning point and I again thank them for their wonderful work. To everyone who travelled to an ADF vaccination clinic to have the jab, thank you for rolling your sleeves up!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe, joyous and relaxing festive season with family and friends. Thank you for your support this year. I am honoured to be the Federal Member of such a wonderful and resilient electorate.

Here’s to a bright 2022!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

w e r d n A

BIG BOOST FOR LITTLE RIVER LANDCARE

Central West landholders will be empowered to improve the health and quality of their soil thanks to a new program run by Yeoval-based Little River Landcare Group.

Next year the organisation, which encourages local farmers to leave the land in a better condition than when they acquired it, will launch the ‘Our Soils PET (People, Education, Technology) Pilot Project.’

The program is funded with a $446,650 Australian Government grant to Little River Landcare.

Soil experts will run hands-on workshops with local landholders around soil pits, where they’ll learn how to restore poor soil, and keep healthy soil in tip-top condition.

Right: Andrew with Minister for Agriculture, David Littlepround, Little River Landcare Chairman – Don Bruce and soil expert Peter Walker near Buckinbah East.

Runs on the board worth celebrating! √ $2 billion for upgrades to the Great Western Highway

√ $60,000 for a mural on the Molong water tank

√ $40 million for highway upgrades between Molong and Orange

√ $93,306 for a new wifi tower at Larras Lee and Boomey

√ $14 million for highway upgrades between Orange and Lithgow

√ $124,500 for local bridge repairs around Molong

√ Over $2 million to improve Cabonne streetscapes including Molong's Bank Street and Canowindra's Gaskill Street

√ Over $1.22 million in stimulus funding for local roads and community infrastructure

√ $308,175 for a new Education and Training Centre at the Australian National Field Days site

√ $1.9 million for forestry plantations in the Central West

√ $150,000 for the Fairbridge War Memorial on the Mitchell Highway, east of Molong

√ $13,264 to support the Molong Show √ $436,000 for the Wellington Caves Museum √ $1.15 million for a new bridge over Washpen Creek, near Yeoval √ $446,650 for Little River Landcare

√ Almost $2 million for headspace mental health centres in Calare √ Establishment of a Regional Banking Taskforce

ORANGE ELECTORATE OFFICE 1/179A Anson Street PO Box 673 Orange NSW 2800

√ $308,175 for a new Education and Training Centre at the Australian National Field Days site

(02) 6361 7138 @ andrew.gee.mp@aph.gov.au www.andrewgeemp.com.au

For regular updates and news, follow me on Facebook and Instagram @andrewgeecalare

Authorised by Andrew Gee MP, Suite 1/179A Anson Street, Orange NSW 2800. Produced and printed using parliamentary entitlements.

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021 9

‘Fast Foods’ for home-gardens

Got it! Companion Planting ideas extend to using what you grow to add as ‘fast foods’ to add extra growth and nutrition to your garden.

by Rozzi - Rozzi’s Happy Pots, Plants and New Friends

Don’t worry if you are not a keen gardener - but you love the freshness of home-grown vegies, herbs and being surrounded by colourful flowers.

I grow my herbs close to my kitchen where I can enjoy the delightful fresh fragrance of basil, sage, thyme etc. etc near to my cooking pots. I also love growing ‘uniqueness’ in pots or gardens the ‘disorganised’ mix of herbs, vegies and flowers growing in the same pots.

Right now I am planting tubs of the above for Christmas giving - what could be a nicer gift than my pots of edible creativity. Planted with love, delivering something more special to my family and friends than a bought bottle of perfume or the latest in socks. Try making something yourself or let me make something for you. 0490734650

Unfortunately I lost a few plants in the recent floods and before that in amongst the torrential rainfalls that saturated my seedlings.

Earlier this week - out went the drenched and suffering tomato and lettuce plants ... and a multitude of herbs that have proven they definitely do not like ‘wet feet’.

Picking up one of my gardening bibles ‘Companion Gardening in Australia by Judith Collins - Working with Mother Nature’ I discovered a way to use what nature had decided would not survive ... and how I could use these to provide ‘fast food’ alternatives to my surviving plants (rather than commercial brands).

Which is also a philosophy of alternative gardeners ... a weed found in your garden can be used to help other plants.

In Judith Collins’ great book - she provides ‘recipes’ of how to use the humble weed - to benefit the life and health of other plants.

I’m experimenting in my Gatekeeper’s garden ... and enjoying learning about how to live and learn better within the natural environment of

A Clock On The Handlebars

It was early, the rooster was crowing. A voice called, 'Bobby, get up, it's school today.' I stirred, looking at Mum standing beside me.

'Go on, lovely, don't keep him waiting,' she said.

Reluctantly I reached for my shorts and blood-stained shirt. My trapping mate, Ron, was dressed and, with eyes aglow, said, ‘We should get five pair today.’

‘Five pair?’

‘Yes! Rabbits.’ Already in his mind, Ron had detrapped, gutted and cleaned them ready for the freezing works. At three shillings and sixpence a pair our bank balance would soon be worth fifty quid.

The night before, we had set twenty traps on a neighbouring paddock. Martin, the owner, trusted us to keep clear of his grazing stock and dam and to shut the gates behind us.

I stepped down onto the cool earthen floor, which Dad had built out of anthills and crushed, dried mud. It always smelled earthy when Mum wet it down on a hot, dry day and was so cool on your feet.

Ron was checking the tyres on our old bikes and was looking at me impatiently. ‘We won’t have to take the traps home today,’ he half-shouted. ‘We can put them in Martin’s old shed, under the Whippet.’ I was relieved, as lugging the steel traps was the worst part of rabbiting.

‘Are you right?’ shouted Ron. I checked my pouch for my sharp pocketknife; with Chicka, our foxy, barking around us, we were ready.

‘Bye,’ says Mum, gently. ‘Watch out for snakes and don’t forget to check your clock, as school starts at nine.’

Ron had the Westclox Big Ben in a billy can, tied to his handlebars; its loud tick was audible over the noise of the rattling bikes.

Martin’s property was a good 3 miles away, a mile past the rickety old wooden bridge that crossed the Balonne River at St George in south-west O!ieensland, 1942.

When Dad and Mum first came to St George, in 1932, they had leased a garden from Mr Horton, a few miles downstream from the old bridge. The river flats were very fertile but prone to flooding in the big river rises.

Life was idyllic; fish were plentiful in the big holes. Dad would tell me about the 70-pound Murray cod he caught when I was home. ‘A good sign,’ he was heard to say. A lot of his observations were of his early days in Canton, China. He came out to help his storekeeper uncle in Chinchilla. He fell in love with the Australian bush at first sight and lived and died there. In his travels he met and married Jessie, the eldest daughter of James, a Chinese storekeeper, and Elizabeth, a Scottish missionary, in Goondiwindi. Mum was a gentle person and her marriage to Dad was viewed with much apprehension, particularly by her nine siblings. Dad had led a hard shearer’s life!

by Bob Gunn An Australian Short Story

Wool was bringing record prices, graziers and contractors were paying top rates for top workers. Dad was the best shearers’ cook in the district but, as in past history, the blood of hard-working men was sucked by the inevitable parasites. Wartime St George was no different; these came in the form of two-up touts, SP bookies, sly­ groggers and corrupt coppers.

Horton’s garden looked like a good place for Mum and Dad to start a family and Ron and I spent our early childhood on the Ballone. Later on, after a couple of big river floods, we moved into St George proper. A weatherboard lean-to on Riverview Terrace became our new home, modest but comfortable; we also had good neighbours.

Ron was five years my senior and became a father figure when work took Dad to various parts of north-west NSW and south-west Qyeensland. Money came from these distant outposts in the form of postal orders to be collected at post offices; this was enough to put food on the table and clothes on our back. A little extra for a rainy day never came to fruition.

Rabbits were in plague proportions, becoming a problem to the graziers, eating out pastures and creating burrows where stock and horsemen came to grief In the early 1940s, Ollie, who was a diesel engineer, opened up a freezing works just down the road from us. Because of high wool prices, graziers were holding on to their sheep and not slaughtering them. So it seemed sensible to turn a pest into a commodity, but to send the rabbit carcasses to market they had to be frozen. Rabbit carcasses were bought from the rabbiters, unskinned, but gutted with their kidneys intact. Keeping in mind that the basic wage in the 1940s was around six pounds, a good living could be made by professionals and opportunists by selling rabbits to the works for between three shillings and sixpence and five shillings a pair. This became a good secondary income for all in the wool off-season.

‘What will become of us?’ Mum voiced aloud her private thoughts.

‘We’ll be all right, Mum,’ her eldest son assured her.

We schoolkids decided to become opportunists with an approach to Mum for a ‘lend of a quid’ and when asked ‘Why?’ we answered simply, ‘Barney Waters.’

Our neighbour had given us first offer of his six rabbit traps for a pound, so nervously, with our green pound note, we jumped the fence to take Barney at his word.

Barney’s dad said to him, ‘Give ‘em your setter, as it’s no good without the traps.’ A setter was a combination tool, a hoe on one end and a hammer head on the other, used by professionals. Our first attempt in Martin’s paddock netted us seven rabbits on a Sunday. Over at Ollie’s, open seven days a week, three and a half pair got us twenty­two

10 MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

my garden. I would love other keen gardeners to come and sit under my shady elm tree and talk gardening ideas. 0490734650 Tomato Booster: I had a few tomato plants which did not quite make it through the flood. Placing them in my ‘plant hospital’ in the hope of re-activating them for my own use -- I tried Judith Collins recipe to turn these into a booster fertiliser for my tomato patch.

Judith says “You will quickly notice the difference in tomatoes when this fertiliser is applied.

Step 1: Half fill a bucket with chopped tomato plant and comfrey Step 2: Top up with water Step 3: Stand mixture in a sheltered area for approximately 3 weeks.

Step 4: Dilute 50% mix to 50% water.

Step 5: Apply to fruit producing tomato plants and watch them burst with renewed vitality, Note: a liquid made only of comfrey will enhance tomato plants during their fruiting period.

shillings and threepence (one pound, two shillings and three pennies). ‘Not a bad investment,’ Mum said later.

Our best customer was Mrs Waters, as she would take the half­grown ones and give us an extra sixpence for skinning them. Skins stretched on U-shaped wires to dry were worth eight shillings a pound. ‘These are made into diggers’ hats,’ Ollie told us. We were a little proud of our contribution to the war effort.

Our rabbiting was confined to weekends and holidays as school was most important. If the pests were thick we would venture out weeknights and mornings, sometimes netting us an extra ten pairs a week; hence the Big Ben on the handlebars. A typical weekday sortie was to run the traps, clean and get the rabbits to Ollie’s, collect money, rush home, wash under the tap, de-flea each other, have a quick breakfast, get clean clothes, say bye to Mum and dash to school before parade, where we saluted the flag and sang ‘God Save the King’.

I would ask my mate Darcy to scratch my back when an evasive flea appeared, or made a quick trip to the toilet where the shorts were dropped to get to places where it was unseemly to be seen scratching. Other entrepreneurs at the school had the same problem; the teachers were very understanding.

The art of catching rabbits in steel jaw traps was simple: find your paddock with lots of warrens and distinguish a fresh hole from an abandoned one. Fresh tracks and dung denotes this. The trap is buried at the entrance to the burrow in a trench that has been made to house the trap, trailing its chain and steel peg, hammer in the peg, set the jaws (carefully) and the trigger plate last. Cover the paper with fine soil until the whole trap is covered. Cover all signs of your presence around the trap; an operation that would take no more than fifteen minutes, depending on soil and terrain conditions. When running the trap, the timid rodent is generally caught by the foreleg and is extracted and its spine stretched until broken, a 30-second operation. Gutting the rabbit is messy: a slit up the belly from the tail to neck leaving the kidneys intact, and the contents must be buried to alleviate blowflies. Some ‘cowboys’ threw the gut down a burrow, which caused big fly problems and the rabbits to abandon the burrow and dig a new one.

When we left St George, myxomatosis was not a factor.

But it did kill the rabbit industry in later years. I met Ollie again in Goondiwindi in the late 1950s where he had an ice works. We swapped some yarns about rabbiting.

The freezing works later became the centre of another industry: the harvesting of kangaroos around St George.

The animals of our national emblem were processed for pet food and the restaurant trade.

REG’S BENCH A woman takes her 18-year-old daughter to the doctor.

The doctor says, "Okay, Mrs. Jones, what's the problem?"

The mother says, "It's my daughter Darla. She keeps getting these cravings, she's putting on weight, and is sick most mornings."

The doctor gives Darla a good examination, then turns to the mother and says, "Well, I don't know how to tell you this, but your Darla is pregnant - about 4 months, would be my guess."

The mother says, "Pregnant?! She can't be, she has never ever been left alone with a man!

Have you, Darla?"

Darla says, "No mother! I've never even kissed a man!"

The doctor walked over to the window and just stares out of it.

About five minutes pass and finally the mother says, "Is there something wrong out there doctor?"

The doctor replies, "No, not really, it's just that the last time anything like this happened, a star appeared in the east and three wise men came over the hill.

I'll be damn if I'm going to miss it this time"........

Sipping her drink, the single girl leered and said, "Last Friday at the end of the work day I went to my boyfriend's office wearing a leather coat. When all the other people had left, I slipped out of it and all I had on was a leather bodice, black stockings and stiletto heels. He was so aroused that we made passionate love on his desk right then and there!"

The engaged woman giggled and said, "That's pretty much my story! When my fiancé got home last Friday, he found me waiting for him in a black mask, leather bodice, black hose and stiletto pumps.

He was so turned on that we not only made love all night, he wants to move up our wedding date!"

The married woman put her glass down and said, "I did a lot of planning. I made arrangements for the kids to stay over at Grandma's. I took a long scented-oil bath and then put on my best perfume. I slipped into a tight leather bodice, a black garter belt, black stockings and six-inch stilettos.

I finished it off with a black mask. When my husband got home from work, he grabbed a beer and the remote, sat down and yelled, "Alright there, Batman, what's for dinner?

WORD SEARCH

Solutions page 15

QUICK CROSSWORD

“Hello, my name is Bob. How can I help you?”

Caller: “Hi Bob, I really need your advice on a serious problem.

I have suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me.

The usual signs: If the phone rings and I answer, the caller hangs up. She goes out with ‘the girls’ a lot. I try to stay awake to look out for her when she comes home, but I usually fall asleep.

Anyway, last night about midnight, I hid in the shed behind the boat. When she came home, she got out of someone’s car buttoning her blouse, then she took her panties out of her purse and slipped them on.

It was at that moment, crouched behind the boat, that I noticed a hairline crack in the outboard motor mounting bracket.

Is that something I can weld, or do I need to replace the whole bracket?”

It's the wife's birthday tomorrow , she's been leaving jewellery magazines lying around, So I've bought her a magazine rack Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. "In honor of this holy season" Saint Peter said, You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven."

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle", he said. "You may pass through the pearly gates" Saint Peter said.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells."

Saint Peter said "You may pass through the pearly gates".

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties. St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, "And just what do those symbolize?"

The man replied. "These are Carols."

Husband takes the wife to a disco.

There’s a guy on the dance floor going all out – break dancing, moonwalking, back flips, the works.

The wife turns to her husband and says: "See that guy? 25 years ago he proposed to me and I turned him down."

Husband says: "Looks like he’s still bloody celebrating!!

Across 1 Destructive migratory insect (6) 4 One of the planets (6) 8 Vestige (5) 9 Senior naval officer (7) 10 Large crustacean (7) 11 Stay longer abed (3,2) 12 Remedied (9) 17 Infants (5) 19 Italian child (7) 21 Make bigger (7) 22 Stupefied (5) 23 Tantalised (6) 24 At the back of a ship (6)

Down 1 Small (6) 2 Climb with difficulty (7) 3 Slumbered (5) 5 Legendary founder of Rome (7) 6 Tend, care for (5) 7 Mute (6) 9 Pleasant (9) 13 Merit (7) 14 Gentle misty rain (7) 15 Most proficient (6) 16 ___ bleu (6)

18 Wood for model makers (5) 20 King with the golden touch (5)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD Across 1 Bills are revised by some politicians (8) 5 Attempt - to use a dagger (4) 8 Capturing some Italian city (5) 9 God accepting drink in Borders (7) 11 Arrested, having committed a theft (7) 12 A large number study in fear (5) 13 Tax cut (6) 15 Sounds made by hooters about one (6) 18 Term of endearment, like "honey" (5) 20 Comments about stains (7) 23 The vowel sounds we make? (3,3,1) 24 Working or departing (5) 25 Drug for a fool (4) 26 School staff trained cats here (8)

Down 1 Rest from dispute, leading retreat (3,2) 2 Like a certain poet composing in Corby (7) 3 Western farm operated by church (5)

4 Innocent creature getting attorney to reveal Greek letter (6) 6 Journey to the east?

Nonsense! (5) 7 Be joining teams in addition (7) 10 Ode or composition in western show (5) 13 Tried, for example, scattering seed around (7) 14 Laurel traps a devil (5)

16 Sandier sort of fish (7) 17 Rubies, if not set properly, can result in injury (6) 19 Furnish egghead with clever remark (5) 21 Enchanted soldier in raincoat (5) 22 Wise men taking a long time on Sunday (5)

SODUKU Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9, with no number repeated.

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

11

TRADES & SERVICES

BUILDING / CARPENTRY

ACCOUNTANTS / SOLICITORS

• • • •

Campbell Paton & Taylor SOLICITORS, ATTORNEYS AND NOTARIES

In Attendance are:

THURSDAY & FRIDAY by appointment.

CONCRETE / LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS

11 BANK STREET MOLONG

Ph: 6362 1922

Picton Bros Panelspan

MARGOT SAWYER

• Glass Rooms • Patios • Cladding • Carports • Recreation Rooms • Enclose existing verandahs BL83737C

6361 9244 www.pictonbros.com.au

G R EA D Y M IX

CONCRETE

CONVEYANCING

FIREWOOD AVAILABLE

BULK WATER DELIVERY

Concrete Trucks Mini Mix •3 •Mini digger, Bobcat, Truck & Truck Trencher, Dog hire

Licence No: 1033852

2/67 Bank Street, Molong NSW 2866 PO Box 174, Molong NSW 2866

Ph: 02 6366 8222 Fax: 02 6366 9273

Free Quote

N LO

ED

CONVEYANCING

MO

Orange office 193-195 Anson St.

BUILDING

Carpentry Painting Tiling Plastering

General Repairs & Maintenance No Job too Small !

Ph: 0437 218 930

TUES- Andrew Kermode Solicitor WED- Michelle Reynolds Conveyancer

Molong 02 6366 8049

Mark O’Donahue Home Maintenance

•Sand, aggregates •Topsoil, Mulch •Mushroom compost •Woodchips

SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS

Call Dusty

6366 8448

E: margot@margotsawyerconveyancing.com.au

AUTOMOTIVE / SMASH REPAIRS

m 0428 650 499 Family owned & f 63 669 559 operated 33 BETTS ST, MOLONG

EARTHMOVING

CONCRETE Lic. MVRL45372

Watson Street MOLONG

EARTHMOVING & TRANSPORT

T 6366 8280

Extensive range of driving lights and light bars starting from

$140

Now doing

LIGHT VEHICLE BLUESLIPS

Servicing all your Earthmoving requirements, Low Loader, Water Tankers and Side tipper hire

• EXTENSIVE RANGE OF TYRES • WHEEL ALIGNMENTS • E-SAFETY INSPECTIONS • VALVOLINE PRODUCTS • SUPERCHARGE BATTERIES • EXHAUST REPAIRS

Contact Garry Gersbach:

0417 422 926 or 02 6369 6185

Open Monday to Friday - 8 am to 5.00 pm

ELECTRICAL

• Residential & Commercial • Network & data cabling • Security & access control • Optical fibre & TV cabling • CCTV

0447 239 937 sammueldwyer@gmail.com

12

E: garry@boxtrim.com.au W: boxtrim.com.au

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICIAN

» » » » » » »

Switchboard Upgrades Lighting & Power Appliances Smoke Alarms Sheds Test & Tagging Emergency Call Outs

AVAILABLE 24/7

Recieve a Complimentary Electrical Safety Health Report Rest easy knowing your Home is safe & sound! Valued at $149!

TROY BARRETT ELECTRICAL Servicing Molong and the Central West

0407 274 358

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

LIC. No 323812C

ENGINEERING ABN 75 131 657 324

RURAL INDUSTRIAL DOMESTIC REPAIRS MACHINING & FABRICATION ON SITE SERVICE Bruce Beasley

Mobile 0418 672 247 AH 02 6361 7380 Shed 6 / 390 Clergate Road Orange NSW 2800

FUNERAL SERVICES

PACKAGING

6361 7777 6362 3751

HARVESTING

MOVING HOUSE OR OFFICE?

NORMAN J PENHALL FUNERALS

CONTRACT HARVESTING No job too big or small

Serving the Molong District PROVIDING 24 HOUR 7 DAYS SENSITIVE, DIGNIFIED & PROFESSIONAL CARE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST PRE-PAID AND PRE-ARRANGED FUNERAL SPECIALISTS, RESPECTING ALL DENOMINATIONS email: mail@penhallfunerals.com.au

OUR FAMILY CARING FOR YOUR FAMILY

Book Boxes | Tea Chests Bubble Wrap | Glass Jars Packing Tape

ALL YOUR PACKAGING NEEDS! Come and see us at 1 Wellington Street, Molong

AFDA

Or phone us on 02

6366 8100

Contact Brad 0439 024 382

SMASH REPAIRS

PLUMBING

D & M DUNCAN

Javelinplumbing

we’ll pinpoint your problem Lic No. 160917C

Licensed Plumber, Drainer, Gasfitter Servicing

Servicing Molong / Cabonne & District

• Domestic • Rural • Commercial

0408 031 829

B-Double Livestock, Hay & General Freight Matt Knott

0428 986 164 knotttransport@gmail.com WATER BORES

OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE OVER 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE FULLY LICENCED & INSURED

• Auto Robot • Baking Oven • All insurance work • Panel Beating & Spray Painting 24 HOUR TOWING • Windscreens supplied and fitted

TREE SERVICES

Country Tree Services Garry Livingstone

• Arborist • Tree Felling • Trimming • Stump Grinding • Fully Insured • 30 years experience

Molong

Smash Repairs Quality Smash Repairs

• Insurance & Private Work • All vehicle makes & models • Custom work and paint

• Hotrods/Restoration/Vintage vehicles • Motor bikes/boats and all marine vessels

Ph: 6366 8208

(m)0468 962 162

14 Enterprise Place Molong NSW 2866 info@molongsmashrepairs.com.au

0408 655 811 WELDING

CALL BRYAN OR CLIVE NOW ON

WELDING & FABRICATION FIXED & MOBILE PLANT MAINTENANCE MOBILE WELDING SERVICE

PROMPT, PROFESSIONAL & RELIABLE SERVICE

0409 041 659 email: srdwelding@bigpond.com

6366 5220

53 CUDAL STREET, MANILDRA

PH/FAX: 6364 5432 AH:63 645 077

(02) 6366 9010 e: javelin@telcomail.com.au

TRANSPORT

SMASH REPAIRS

WATER TANKS

Sam & Jacqui Duncan

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

13

CLASSIFIEDS

that work !

PHONE: 02 6366 8017 • Email: molongex@bigpond.net.au

PUBLIC NOTICES

ACCOMODATION UNITS FOR RENT

CABONNE COUNCIL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CLOSURES

Cabonne Council’s offices at Molong, Cudal and Canowindra will be closed from 3pm Friday, 24 December 2021 until Tuesday, 4 January 2022.

Kerbside garbage collections will operate as normal during the Christmas – New Year period.

Cargo, Canowindra, Cumnock, and Manildra waste disposals depots will be closed on Christmas Day, but all waste depots will operate as normal on other days during the holiday period.

Cabonne Community Transport will be taking a break from 3pm Friday, 24 December 2021 and resume on Monday, 10 January 2022.

Anyone wishing to make an urgent enquiry or report an emergency should call (02) 6392 3234. For life-threatening emergencies or to report a bush fire, call 000.

The Cabonne team wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year.

PO Box 17 MOLONG NSW 2866

B J Byrnes General Manager

Elizabeth Lodge Aged Persons Accommodation, Cnr Forbes & Lord Streets, Yeoval has two Units for rent.

Unit 3 and Unit 5.

Both units are one-bedroom self care units, with a bathroom, laundry kitchen and lounge area. These Units are in a complex with four other Units.

For further details please ring the Secretary/Treasurer: Margaret Vaughan..

Phone: 6846 4253

PUBLIC NOTICES

Flowers By Kerry Flowers for all occasions VARIETY OF ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO ORDER

Ph 0438 668 347 Living Gifts for Christmas @ Rozzi’s in Bank Street Potted Poinsettias, fresh herb gardens, long lasting pretty pots with loving gardens, succulent fairy gardens Rozzi 0490734650 Open All Weekend and Weekdays

MEMORIAM MATTHEW CRAIN

31.12.84 - 16.12.03 Little did we know that morning What the day would bring.

Goodbyes were left unspoken When a heart of gold stopped beating.

It broke our hearts to lose you But Matthew when you passed away You did not go alone, For part of us went with you.

We miss your kind and caring ways towards us and many others, Your smiles, cheek, fantastic sense of humour and jokes will never be forgotten.

Fly high Matthew Love forever, your Mum, Dad, Amanda and Matt, Aunty Heather, Uncle Dick, Uncle David, Uncle Trevor, Sonya, Lance & Kass.

Thank you to those people who still care

Anglican services Christmas Eve – 6:00pm Traditional communion service at Cudal 11:00pm Traditional communion service seeing in Christmas day at Molong Christmas day – 8:00am Traditional Communion service at Molong 10:00am Traditional communion service at Manildra Molong Community Church Christmas Eve service at 6:00pm Uniting Church Christmas day service at 8:30am Molong Baptist Church Christmas Eve – BBQ at 6:30pm followed by an outdoor Carols service Christmas day – 9:00am Catholic Church St. Lawrence’s, Molong - 10.00am

Who are you spending Christmas with?

Why not come to the

MOLONG COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH Lunch served at 12 noon at the Baptist Church Hall

Bring with you a small gift for the gift exchange

CHURCH NOTICES

UNITING CHURCH Sunday 19 December Manildra 9am: Rev Ross Godfrey Molong 11am: Rev Ross Godfrey Heather Woodhouse 63668218

Claim the date – 2022 Send your 2022 dates to molongexpress@bigpond.net.au

January

11 Molong Probus 10am Bowling Club

Molong’s Wing Hang Restaurant

would like to thank the residents of Molong and District who have supported us throughout 2021.

We would also like to say a warm thank you to the residents who came to our aid during the recent floods and clean-up.

We could not have managed without your wonderful help so willingly given by both adults and children of the town.

Wing Hang Restaurant will be closed from December 20 and will reopen on Wednesday 29 December Thank you to everyone ... we both love Molong and being part of the local community - and so welcomed.

Kaye and Phillip Yuen

February

3 Molong Men’s Shed meets 8 Molong Probus 10am Bowling Club

March

3 Molong Men’s Shed 8 Molong Probus 10am Bowling Club (AGM)

April

7 Molong Men’s Shed

May

5 Molong Men’s Shed

June

2 Molong Men’s Shed

July

7 Molong Men’s Shed

August

4 Molong Men’s Shed

September

1 Molong Men’s Shed

October

6 Molong Men’s Shed (AGM)

November

3 Molong Men’s Shed

December

1 Molong Men’s Shed

CAST $10 RSVP: MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER PLEASE BOOK ONLINE WWW.TRYBOOKING.COM/BNEEC or with Rozzi at Molong Express Office

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A DONATION PH 0418 973 039 14

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

Sport Molong Golf

Gerard

Sunday Golf A most pleasant morning weather wise for golf at Royal Molong on Sunday where it seemed to be a competition to see who could lose the most golf balls. There were ten players who played a twelve hole stableford event. Of the ten I think seven or eight lost at least one golf ball and in Stubba’s case definitely two.

Ged was the winner and took home the ham under protest but on insistence from Bro whilst Justin came second and decided to leave the frozen chicken in the freezer. Thanks also to Justin for cooking the bbq. Apparently Bally was given a new nickname whilst playing golf today, the snake killer, due to his hitting the ground with his golf club after many of his shots as if killing a snake. Sledging seemed to be the name of the game between Bro, Darren and the third member of their group which continued throughout their twelve holes of golf.

It was good to see the Rugby boys out having

Cricket

a hit of golf and raising money for the cancer council and another family group having a game of golf as well.

I hear on the grapevine that a certain female disc golfer turned forty years old this week. The daughter of Scott and Kerry is a regular as we sit around having a yarn after golf on Sundays so happy birthday Erin.

This Sunday we are having a Christmas themed golf competition. Golf itself probably won’t be any different, the usual rubbish talk from certain players and hard luck stories from others and maybe a few colourful outfits. The bbq afterwards may be a bit more sumptuous with a few drinks as well. Of course everyone is welcome, 8.30am for 9am.

This will be the last organised Sunday competition until next year.

There is no Friday twilight golf planned also until next year but of course anyone can pla¬¬y anytime, $5 to play a game.

Greg Pringle

The Association has been advised last week that some teams are concerned about travelling to Molong to play and playing against Molong players due to the Covid outbreak.

In our opinion the risk is very low as cricket is an outdoor event and players must be double vaccinated.

However the Association once again has taken on board all concerns, comments and risks.

A decision was made to suspend the season

until the end of the Xmas break. Hopefully the Covid and to a lesser extent weather situation will have eased and we can resume on Saturday 15 January 2022. All teams will receive equal points (washout) during the suspension period.

We apologise for any inconvenience or confusion. Stay safe enjoy the Xmas New year with your family and let's hope the season from hell ends with 2021.

357c/kg.

LANDMARK TABLELANDS LIVESTOCK

CTLX CATTLE 14 DECEMBER The last cattle sale for the year produced a smaller yarding with numbers falling by 1,000 head. It was still a pretty good quality yarding with the usual good runs of ideal feeder cattle along with good numbers of young cattle to suit the trade. Grown heifers were well supplied, grown steers were limited and there were 150 cows yarded. Most of the usual buyers were operating except for a feeder buyer who was present at the previous sale.

Young cattle to the trade were 9c dearer with prime vealers selling to 608c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 480c to 580c, while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 432c also to 580c/kg. The very best of the feeder steers and heifers were firm most though were 6c to 10c cheaper, with the feeder steers selling from 400c to 605c, while the feeder heifers sold from 453c to 606c/kg. Young cattle to the restockers remain strong with the young steers selling to 730c, and the young heifers to 630c/kg. Bobby calves sold to 1,205c/kg to the restockers.

Grown steers were 2c cheaper, while the grown heifers were up to 10c/kg cheaper. Prime grown steers sold from 380c to 500c, while the prime grown heifers sold from 390c to 506c/kg.

Cows were 6c cheaper with the 2 and 3 scores selling from 300c to 372c/kg. Prime heavy weight cows sold from 371c to 390c to average 378c/kg. Heavy bulls were dearer selling to QUICK CROSSWORD

CTLX SHEEP 8 December It was only a fair quality yarding with a number of the woolly new season lambs lacking finish.

There were mostly trade weight lambs penned with very few heavy weights. There were fair numbers to suit the restockers and just a few pens of light Merino lambs yarded. Most of the usual buyers were in attendance and operating.

ON THE SHEEP’S BACK STORIES FROM A LIFE IN THE SHEDS ... A WOOLLY RECOLLECTION

BY ANTHONY (TONY) LLOYD New Stocks Available for purchase at the Molong Express, Rural Centre & Molong Newsagency

!

8 M e m GR8 Ti !

8 v o n to Re

Trade weight new season lambs were around firm selling from $170 to $232/head to average between 870c and 910c/kg cwt. Trade weight old lambs sold from $150 to $232/head. The few heavy weight lambs were cheaper with quality a factor. The old lambs over 24kg sold from $230 to $240/head. Young lambs to the restockers were $6 dearer with the young new season lambs selling from $89 to $190/head.

The feeders paid from $177 to $178/head. Light weight Merino lambs sold to the processors from $113 to $144/head. Hoggets sold to $195/ head.

It was a very mixed yarding of mutton where most grades were firm to $5/head cheaper.

Merino ewes sold from $88 to $167 while crossbred ewes sold from $108 to $220/head.

Heavy crossbred wethers sold to $227/head.

The restockers paid from $60 to $130 for Merino ewes and $156/head for light crossbred ewes.

loans@firstchoicecu.com.au, enq@firstchoicecu.com.au, www.firstchoicecu.com.au 0263622944 Terms and Conditions, Fees and Charges may apply.

Australian Credit Licence 240722, BSB 802318

It’s your club!

22-24 RIDDELL ST MOLONG

P: 6366 8105

e:admin@molongrsl.com.au

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Friday Night Ham Raffles Tickets on sale from 7.00pm

BISTRO OPEN FRPM 5.30 pm BAR: Mon Tues 3.00 - 9.00 WED 11.30 - BISTRO Wed 12.30-2.00 9.00 THU 12.00 - 10.00 FRI 12.00 - 11.00 & 5.30-8.30 Thu, Fri, Sat 5.30-8.30 SUN 12-2.30 SAT 11.00 - 10.00 SUN 11.00 - 8.00

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021

15

Your Property | Our Agents | Great Results 18 Sale Street Orange NSW raywhiteemc.com 02 6362 0211

29 Raphael Street, Blayney

81 Hill Street, Orange Exuding charm, character and a timeless elegance situated in the heart of Orange. With generous proportions & original ornate features, this meticulously maintained home is situated in a highly desirable location presenting an exceptional opportunity for investors, downsizers, tree changers and professionals in a much sought-after locale.

• Recently renovated double brick home, large living & dining • Gas fireplace, heating throughout + a split system

Sold $1,400,000 Peter Bromley 0404 037 729

Sold $570,000 Lucy Nell 0400 726 897

“Twin Oaks” 993 Gallymont Road, Mandurama

“The Overflow” 272 Boree Lane, Orange In one of Orange’s most desirable & exclusive locations only 15min* from the CBD, this magnificent 150.46ha* (371.8ac*) grazing property with exquisite views back to Mt Canobolas, surrounded by rolling hills & vineyards • Expansive 5 bdm homestead with open living & entertaining areas + ‘country-style’ kitchen, landscaped picturesque gardens, a tranquil space to relax, play & entertain

Sold $4,100,000 Kurt Adams 0427 747 050

“Mirrabooka Park” is in the well located and highly sort after Bowan Park area, an easy 25min drive from Orange.

Mirrabooka Park is a grazing property with strong red and black volcanic soils with water a real feature. Gently undulating country with many protected valleys, ideally suited to either cattle or sheep grazing.

• 84 Ha of open grazing country • Great water security with 8 dams including 1 spring fed dam • Beautiful stands of shade and shelter timber • 1 bedroom homestead • Steel machinery shed, concrete floor and power connected • Header tank supplied from the spring-fed dam, which feds a number of troughs • Suddived into 9 main paddocks, with fencing in good stock

Sold $754,000 Michael Kennedy 0428 243 222

20 Elsham Avenue, Orange

“Mirrabooka Park” 275 Paling Yards Loop, Orange Sold $6,900,000 Bed Redfern 0457 770 062

All the work has been done and is ready for you to either invest or occupy! The three-bedroom home has recently extended with a generously proportioned master bedroom plus an ensuite. The extension flows from the two bedrooms at the front of the home including fresh paint throughout, new carpet and flooring leaving you with nothing to do but move in and enjoy!

Sold $455,000 Peter Bromley 0404 037 729

40 Cox Avenue, Orange

“Kenso Park” 1155 Forest Road, Orange “Kenso Park” is ideally located just 3.5 hours West of Sydney, in the flourishing town of Orange, a city of distinction constantly evolving and rich in heritage with beautiful historic buildings. Kenso Park is situated on 83 Ha, Kenso Park presents plenty of opportunities for the buyers. With the current owner successfully running a merino stud operation, horses and sheep agistment and also dog boarding.

Enjoying an elevated setting on one of Blayney’s most sought after areas. This contemporary four bedroom home built in 2009 boasts space and a versatile floorplan for family living, with a seamless flow to an impressively large rear yard and undercover alfresco area. Showcasing a generous kitchen perfect for the eager chef, gas cooking, polished floorboards, multiple living areas and ducted gas heating, making it ideal for the family or an investment.

Sold $4,550,000 Michael Kennedy 0428 243 222

Set in a prominent location, this property presents a rare opportunity to acquire a well appointed home on a large 1214sqm block. This three bedroom home is highlighted with well established trees and gardens and is in close proximity to numerous schools, local shops and parks. Ideally suited to an investor with a current return of $330, first home buyer or a small family.

Ray White Emms Mooney

Sold $649,000 James Taylor 0457 792 800

34 Bank Street Molong | 02 6366 9606 | raywhiteemc.com

16

MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 16 December 2021