Walking With Ghosts

[Maureen K Clifford]

It's a corker Terry - well done - I reckon most folks could relate to it even if they haven't actually walked through one because you describe the feelings and the sadness so well. Undoubtedly a worth winner Congratulations.

Cheers

Maureen

[Henry Snicklesnorter]

A deserving win Terry. Brought back a lot of good memories, - I lived and worked at Ora Banda for some years, then moved to Boulder.

You captured the atmosphere of those old places perfectly.

It's astounding just how big some of these places became overnight, then just as suddenly, disappeared. Broad Arrow, just in from Ora Banda had at its peak (I googled this,) 15,000 residents, eight hotels and two breweries as well as a stock exchange. Other facilities included a hospital, three churches, Salvation Army Hall, a chemist, two banks, police station with resident magistrate, a mining registrar, a post office, a cordial factory, six grocery stores and two draperies, and blacksmith and bakers' shops.

The town was gazetted in1897 as Kurawah. The gold ran out sometime in the 1920's and the town was abandoned. Less than 30 years and all that happened. The Broad Arrow pub is still there and a couple of old railway houses, - I guess you'd know it well.

[Terry]

Thanks Marty & Maureen,

A little occurrence that happened at the presentation might be worth mentioning here.
All the poems had been typed and beautifully prepared by Irene and then were displayed on a type of vertical stand for easy reading.
As it happened I forgot my glasses and could only make out the names of the poems (authors names were omitted)
Anyway just before the awards were announced (there were many categories of art being judged) they started putting up the award certificates on the successful poems. Dave and I were standing at one end of the display and we could see I had picked up a H/C & a (C) but before we could investigate further the certificates were hastily removed.
So there we were standing now with Irene listening to all the winners being announced, when suddenly the announcer offered a prize if anyone could answer a question and by some fluke I knew the answer but he didn't hear me and someone else got the prize and I turned to Dave and said 'Always The Bridesmaid Mate' when suddenly it was announced that I had won the poetry award, which I can assure you came as huge surprise, I was already feeling very pleased with myself having picked up the H/C & C and was sure that was my lot for this comp. Yep I reckon some of those Ghost's were looking over my shoulder that night.

Terry

[Terry]

G/day Henry,
Thanks for the comment, you'd certainly understand what this poems all about mate

Yes I know the Ora Banda area pretty well and have driven past the Broad Arrow pub many times when heading towards Menies and beyond, I drove past again just a few weeks ago. The country is the best I have seen it in years, especially out Yundermindera way.

Do you have a go at detecting yourself Henry?

Cheers Terry

[Henry Snicklesnorter]

G/day Henry,
Thanks for the comment, you'd certainly understand what this poems all about mate

Yes I know the Ora Banda area pretty well and have driven past the Broad Arrow pub many times when heading towards Menies and beyond, I drove past again just a few weeks ago. The country is the best I have seen it in years, especially out Yunderminera way.

Do you have a go at detecting yourself Henry?

Cheers Terry

Never tried it Terry, - I had a little 24hr a day operation going in those days, trucks, loaders, graders, bulldozers and roadtrains. Didnt make the time to "stop and smell the flowers." When I finally retire I might give it a go.

[Heather]

Congratulations Terry. You know the desert and it shows!

Heather

[Irene]

And do I keep a secret well, or what Terry???
Fooled both of you blokes, didn't I??
While you were busy getting organised for the opening night, I was upstairs printing out the certificates!! I even took them with us down to Cervantes!!

Now I am waiting to hear Dave's beautiful poem recited with some nice background music!!

Catchya
Irene

[warooa]

Goodonya Terry . . . I know that feeling you've encapsulated so well in the poem. When we go bush walking here we always come across old ruins of civilisation where the timber cutters or tin scratchers lived. It's hard to put into words . . . but you've done it marvelously.

Congratulations on the win, and more so on the poem. Keep em coming.

Cheers, Marty

[Terry]

Thanks Heather & Marty

Marty,
I have read Ion Idriess ,- Tin Scratcher's - so I reckon there would be quite a few ghosts wandering around your neck of the woods as well and even more around the Palmer Gold field (must have a look at that one day).
I suspect that I also have a pretty good imagination as well mate.

Terry

[Terry]

Hi Irene,
You would certainly make a good card player (I'm not going to play poker with you)
You didn't give the slightest clue and on top of that I didn't have any great expectation either,
I was thinking that if I was lucky I might jag a Commended perhaps.
Dave reckoned he looked at you when I made the Bridesmaid remark and that you were struggling to keep a straight face.

I Went to the Muster last night and listened to a variety of Dryblower Murphy's poetry, some of it was remarkably good.
He wrote on a wide range of topics and apparently wrote over 10,000 poems.

Cheers Terry