There Is A Pub

There is a pub called the Royal Mail Hotel about 60ks. south of Hay. I for one did not know about the pub and the people who gather there in the place called Booroorban.
Booroorban came into existence as a place where stock could be watered on the long journey north from the Murray to Hay and further on. Later on it became a Cobb & Co. stop where horses and people could be refreshed after the long dusty journey north.
It is still a place where people come to refresh themselves.It is not from the rigors of the road that they seek relief but from the trials of long lonely work in the paddocks and in the station houses surrounding the Royal Mail Hotel.
Last Thursday 4th December the Department of Primary Industries hosted a Christmas event that involved a barbie, a few drinks, some games in front of the pub and an out door movie show that featured the World's Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins.
It was great night even after the brief shower of rain drove us inside to finish the movie.
After the every one called it a night Danny Byrnes (the DPI Drought Support Worker and event organiser), myself and the publican Mandy shared a nightcap in the quiet of the outback night. Mandy lamented the fact that it may not be possible to keep the pub open into the future because of financial viability. The Royal Mail Hotel which is kept in pristine order, could not provide an income because there are not enough locals left to make the pub and only gathering place in Booroorban a going concern.
I for one think it is worth lamenting the loss of small communities that link us to our past and still provide the haven of company every one needs.

Kel Hodge