Wolverton Mountain

Lake at Mt Beauty

They say don't go on Wolverton Mountain if you're looking for a wife
Cause Clifton Clowers has a pretty young daughter
Who's mighty handy with a gun and a knife
Her tender lips are sweeter than honey and Wolverton Mountain protects her there
The bears and the birds tell Clifton Clowers if a stranger should enter there ........
Claude King

I used to imagine Wolverton Mountain protecting a pretty village such as Mount Beauty. 

Looking down to the village of Mt Beauty

Lunch spot

Meander if you would
Rest a while
And see what is there for you.
An easy jaunt 
Through the winding hills
Bids you stop to soak in the view.
Mt Beauty and Bright
And Myrtleford too
All pretty and leafy and rural.
De-stress, unwind
And breathe in fresh air
No need for an epidural!

And so we came to see brother Tom
In that quaint little town, Yackandandah.
We found him sitting in the sunny main street
Sipping coffee beneath the verandah.
Folk music festival we had just missed
Now that would have been a hoot.
Brother Tom was singing and playing guitar
Ladies, raise your champagne flute!

Main street, Yackandandah

Snowy Mountains Song

Snowy River Hydro Scheme at Bonegilla

Roll, Roll, Roll on your way,
Snowy River roll on your way.
Roll on your way until judgement day,
Snowy River roll.

Show me a man who's a man among men,
Who'll stow his white collar and put down his pen.
Who'll go down a mountain and build you a dam,
Bigger and better than old Uncle Sam.
Roll, roll, roll on your way...

So sang the workers on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme in the 1960's. A visit to Bonegilla sheds an interesting light upon this chapter in Australia's growth and development. Hardy workers, mostly migrant, toiled in basic conditions to build 16 dams, 7 power stations and miles of tunnels to provide power generation as well as irrigation. Work lasted for 35 years after it commenced in 1949. I remember singing this song at school.

The dam wall

Birds relishing the updraft

Sometimes it's raining and sometimes it's pale

And sometimes it blows up a blizzardy gale

Sometimes it's fire and sometimes it's flood

And sometimes you're up to your eyeballs in mud.

Roll, roll, roll on your way

Snowy River roll on your way.

Roll on your way until judgement day,

Snowy River roll.

A tribute to the Snowy men, some who had left their country ravaged by World War 2.

As our Prime Minister at the time, Robert Menzies called them, "Big men", when he opened Tumut dam in 1958.

He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother

Near Tallangatta

The road is long
With many a winding turns
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where

But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

                                                    

The Hollies

I remember passing across the causeway at Tallangatta. I remember turning left and passing farmland. I remember the pretty camp site and that magnificent tree. But I can't remember its name. Pigs...something. A rather awful name but a quiet refuge by a river which attracted a handful of trout fishermen. I remember the next morning asking a farmer the quickest way to where we were going. I remember his friendly demeanour and how he rested his arm upon the bonnet of Snowy and wanted to talk for ever. We admired his beautiful garden that his wife had spent a lifetime on (but she now preferred to embroider). Such is the lay back way we encountered on this trip. Simple kindness, no obligation, no division, no complaint, no judgement. Just acceptance and a willingness to help. 

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport

Camp at Blowering reservoir

Tie me kangaroo down, sport 
Tie me kangaroo down 
Tie me kangaroo down, sport 
Tie me kangaroo down 

Dozens of kangaroos grazing

After our feast of art galleries, museums, politics, history and environment in Australia's National capital, Canberra, we turned Snowy around and headed for home. Southbound, down the Hume Highway to where the dog sits on the tuckerbox (9 miles from Gundagai) and then turn off to Tumut. And this is what I love about Australia. Stop in any country town and visit the Information Centre. You'll always be greeted by a welcoming smile from volunteers who love to tell you about the area. They'll shower you with maps and local knowledge to help put you in the direction that you want. When you have the good tips, it's time to enjoy the town. Picnic in the pretty gardens or wander down the main street for a coffee and a spot of local op-shopping. When in the mood, fossick through the shelves and racks and chat to the ladies from the local church charity.You never know what treasures or good read you'll find.  Just love the country towns. 

The lull before the storm

It came to pass that afternoon
At the Info Centre in Tumut
"Take The Snowy Valley Highway, a glorious drive
I promise you won't regret it."

T'was great advice we did receive
The countryside so peaceful
At Blowering Dam we camped the night

Snug inside Snowy

With very few other people.

Kangaroos grazed in a void of hush
Not a breath of wind on the shores
Mirrored waters reflecting the sky
Perfection, demanding applause.

And so we sat, ignorant of fact
Of what was about to unleash
Kangaroos wink at the warning signs
In Nature's diverse pastiche.

Chiaroscuro effect surround us now
As the first great blob crashed down.
The lull before the storm had gone
And we were about to drown.

Around these parts, things change quick
And in a wink, no doubt.
"Better get in and pull down the roof," 
Intrepid Bill did shout.

The wind did scream and the rain did pelt
As safe inside we huddled.
Kangaroos grazed, undeterred,
nibbling the grass untroubled.

Shirley.      


NEXT MORNING.......                                                                     

Morning coffee at Corryong the next day

                                      

Bright and sunny as clouds raced away

Leaving our camp, we drove across the ridge and through the hills, passing  apple orchards with crops shrouded in white nets against birds. Sleepy Sunday morning... perfect river setting in Corryong... coffee break. Back on the road...a leisurely meander... views across the valley to Mt Kosciusko, Australia's highest peak. 

By afternoon we pulled into Henry Angel track head. Here we rediscovered the trail that explorers, Hume and Hovell walked from Yass to Port Phillip in 1824. A gloriously spacious and well provided camp spot...HOT WATER! Not to be missed.

Our camp at Henry Angel off Tooma Road

Hume & Hovell walking trail

Creatures you're likely to encounter along the way

Huge wombat holes abound everywhere

Must have stick to deter copperhead snakes

Around the swamp we came face to face with a herd of cows...who ran!

Little Trees

I'd like to take a walk in the woods

Entrance to the Arboretum

Come with me, do you think you could

We'll find a tree that we can climb

We'll have fun all afternoon

Chorus:

Little trees need a chance to grow

It takes time and care                            

They're a lot like us you know

So many kinds of different trees

They look like one big family

Big ones, short ones, baby ones too

I'll name this one after you

It'll be a long time before he

Is tall and strong like a grown up tree

For now he's just a kid like us

Playing out in the woods

Michael Mitchell

Still in its infancy, the Arboretum in Canberra is a perfect place to visualise what is to come. With great views across the city, the apparent bare hills are dotted with little trees that, in the years ahead, will provide leafy walks, stunning colour and smells to excite the senses. We'll go back in a few years to note the change.

The Margaret Whitlam Centre

                                                        

Views to Canberra

   

                                                        

The Village Green

Out in the country 

far from all the soot and noise of the city
There's a village Green.

 It's been a long time
Since I last set eyes on the church with the steeple    
 Down by the village Green                                         'Twas there I met a girl called Daisy

And kissed her by the old oak tree
Although I loved my Daisy, I sought fame
And so I left the village Green

I miss the village Green and all the simple people

I miss the village Green
The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school

The Kinks

More Canberra attractions

What a contrast
What a delight, 
From bureaucrats and politicians 
To gardens colourful and bright.
Visit Cockington Green,                     
A miniature village,
Those Canberra politicians
Could never tax or pillage.
A must-do stroll on a lazy afternoon
A quintessential English countryside signature tune.

Shirley.

Fortunate Son

Coat of Arms

Some folks are born, made to wave the flag
Ooh, they're red, white and blue                                 And when the band plays, "Hail To The Chief 
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord

It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no senator's son, son 
It ain't me, it ain't me

I ain't no fortunate one, no

John Fogarty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

And so here we are in Canberra and the political songs start playing in my head...and I ain't no senator's daughter.

           
From the dusty, dirty Barry Way

We moseyed into town.

"Better have a shower Bill or we'll generate a frown."

It's Canberra town and we must look right;

Squeaky clean and all.

Once that's done, we'll look the part,

To give the Prime Minister a call.

                                           And so we climbed the flight of stairs

To enter our Parliament House

Democracy on Capital Hill

A value we all espouse.

With eyes agog and keen to explore

We stood inside the lobby.

"Better take your hat off Bill coz the protocol is snobby."

We sat inside the House of Reps and gawked at what we saw.

But it wasn't long before I heard a familiar little snore.

"Wake up Bill. We'd better go. The Senate might be better."

And that it was; a corruption case

Correctly to the letter.

A coffee was needed to wake us up

As pollies can be quite a bore.

So under the gaze of Elizabeth the second

Our energies we did restore.

This building is a masterpiece;

Kind of simple, yet complex and grand.

A fitting place to celebrate well

Our democratic law of the land.

Shirley.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Can you spot Bill?

Love this painting...a tapestry replica is in the great hall

Up to the House of Representatives and the Senate

Cuppa tea with Elizabeth

Just feeling important

After the politics, some culture.....

On Lake Burley Griffin

Outside National Art gallery

Walkway to Lake Burley Griffin

                                                                                                     

Entrance to museum...fascinating building

Lunch on the lake

View from War Memorial to Parliament House

War memorial

Commemorative path to War memorial
(Bill resting under tree)

              

On the roof of Parliament House