20180306 NSW Wyalong to Mirroon

20180306  Gold was discovered in Wyalong in 1893, then in 1895 West Wyalong was settled 5 ks from Wyalong around the bullock track, without the benefit of town planning, resulting in curious kinks in the road where it avoided trees.  A town where the main street, called Main Street, is not part of a grid system but rather “a crooked mile”.

The cow's dominate the country roads strolling at their leisure stopping the traffic for that bit of green grass on the other side of the road, I do love the country way of life.

And their off, the rovers heading off the herd and doing their best to guide them to greener pastures, this just gets better.

Arriving at Wyalong, fingers crossed we can find a TV tech.

I found a 2^nd hand shop and Des spotted a hardware so we separated for some me time and I brought a pair of summer PJ’s for $4 and Des got some plugs to put over the hand breaks to protest the bike cover, how exciting.

Unfortunately the TV tech is out of town and way too busy to help but he did give us a mobile for another along the way, so videos it is.

On to Mirrool, derived from the local aboriginal word meaning “Pipe Clay” and a population at the 2011 census was 234.  There is however a camp ground opposite the grand old pub with toilet, hot showers and a BBQ area with a fridge and sink to wash up in if you need, $10 per night but if you have a meal at the pub camping is free, not bad I recon.

Tumbleweed: A structural part of the above-ground anatomy of a number of species of plants, a diaspore that, once it is mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem, and tumbles away it the wind, fascinating.

A short trip, now to sit up for a couple of days and relax, arr the harmony.

07-03-2018 I wake up slowly and take in the quite while waiting for my cup of herb tea in bed, then I wait for that magic word, ‘Lee’ breakfast is ready and I stumble out of bed to a hearty, feast.😜 

Once Des completes the dishes, 😏 I grab my camera and we walk the town, amazingly we do find some old wares and sites to take our interest.

Amazing, this was once used to put out fires, now that’s doing it hard.

The old church still stands but no longer used, they should turn it into a coffee shop for the campers passing through.

The town Hall, looks like it was made from scrap bits of mini org, but looks rustic.











Check out the old farm machinery lining the fence.

The town has certainly put in the effort to display these old tools.

Silos at Mirroon, $1000 Price

Most silos are used to store grain or fermented feed known as silage but in Mirroon, the 2nd Sat in Oct, football players, celebrities & farmers gather to boot a football over the silos in a quest to win.  The challenge has grown into a post-season pilgrimage since Geelong's Billy Brownless thumped the 1st silo kick in 1992, & 2015 celebrate 23 years.  The silos are 30 metres high by 10 metres wide with a walkway across the top adding another few metres.

  The silos, the double storey pub & a couple of houses make up Mirrool, the story goes that in the late 1970's, Ariah Mirrool coach Mark Newton tried to kick a footy clear over the silos during an end-of-season drinks session at the pub. Geelong forward billy Brownless claimed the 1st silo challenge, defeating local ruck-rover & farmer, Rob Harper.

The Historical Mirrool Royal Hotel built between 1913 and 1916 and opened in 1917, that would make her 101 years old, it makes you wonder how they survive in these small towns.

We invited ourselves over for drinks with a couple of happy campers Dave and Michelle and were having a grand old time till the loo called me, off I toddle in the dark when I tripped over a fire pit, talk about crash, bang, boom, I went down.  Landing on my throat I was a bit dazed then I tried to get up and my initial thought was, I think I’ve done some damage.  Once I collected myself I continued on my journey to the loo, dropped my pants and saw the damage, holy crap this is not good.  I cleaned myself up using toilet paper and hobbled back, sat down and said, I’ve done some damage, I drop my daks (not undies) and the look on their faces was pure stunned. Des stood back not sure what to do while Dave took control, Michelle grab the first aid kit while he checked my neck, this guy knows his stuff.  Out came the stick on bandage, Des pull on that side so I can pull the cut closed says Dave, once on he bandaged the leg then worked on my toe which I cut across the middle, time for a wine I feel.

                I did say I only had a couple of wines.

All patched up now to make it back to the van, I had Dave and Des on either side only the problem was when you have one short and one tall guy the ergonomics just don’t work so once again Dave came to my rescue, he picked me up and carried me back to the van.  I know Des was please Dave was there as Des just isn’t good with cuts of any kind.

The dreaded fire pit I fell over and I even managed to damage it, trust me.  I did however phoned the Hotel told them of my mishap so they can review the problem. 

08-03-2018 Poor Des was really concerned but also had a giggle when telling me the story: here we were having a drink with people we just meet and you start taking down you pants, what the hell is she doing, they all thought, well they soon found out.  We left for the hospital ASAP so once packed, we headed back to Wyalong.  I phoned ahead and was directed to the doctors in town, talk about waited on, the nurse came to the van and after checking my wound wheeled me to the surgery for stitches. 

Des being Des had to turn away, before and after pic's

I couldn’t praise Dr Wail El Waili and Jo the nurse enough I was certainly well looked after, I had no pain when injected with the numbing needles or stitches, he was so gentle, Jo the nurse told me he came from Iraq so you can imagine the things he saw.  Both he and his wife emigrated from Iraq and spent 17 years in London before they were offered a position in Australia, so they packed up with their three children for a life changing experience, their life had finally taken a turn for the better.

Both are doctors and it took some time before the community accepted them but after a town meeting requested by the doctor they are now well liked and very much part of this wonderful town, I must say Jo’s story brought tears to my eyes.

 "Here's to a Better Life"