130 years and still going strong

Julie:

Last Sat over 70 people gathered to celebrate 130 years of the Post Office building. Although no longer operating as a PO the building has been recently purchased and restored by Warren and Lyn Oakes from Nowra, who are planning to live in part time and hoping that once again it will play a role in the life of the community.

The Salvation Army brought a band of a dozen players from Orange, Sydney, Dubbo and Newcastle, the CWA catered for the morning tea, I organised a brief ecumenical service to celebrate the restoration and the Oakes put on a BBQ lunch. It was wonderful day and everyone enjoyed being with their friends and neighbours, having a good sticky-beak at the building and listening to the wonderful band.

Art in the Bush

I recommend a drive from Orange to Dubbo making sure you turn left at Molong and proceed to Cumnock and Yeoval.

Apart from the lovely scenery and promise of great crops you will see bicycles suspended in trees. At first your mind thinks maybe the rider hit a huge bump and became airborn. Of course this is crazy especially when you see other bikes being ridden by snakes, rabbits and an assortment of other animals.

The bikes will surprise you as drive between Cumnock and Yeoval as they might be in the middle of a paddock or high in the air above the road.

The bikes are artworks representing and celebrating A B Paterson's poem of "Mulga Bill". The  Mulga Bill Festival happens in July every year. Last year some five thousand people ventured to Yeoval to enjoy the festival. The locals are proud to celebrate the fact that one of our great bush poets, Banjo Paterson, was born in the area.

Kel Hodge