1100 KMS FOR A SAUSAGE SIZZLE FOR BOOKS, BANGERS & BEER
BELOW AN INTERVIEW LINK THAT EXPLAINES VERBALLY, FAR BETTER THAN MY FAT FINGERS SYNDROME HAS THE ABILITY TO DO.
AUDIO LINK ONE BELOW
Life is a bit like that!
When opportunity is grabbed, you never quite know where it might lead.
You know the type of day with all the hallmarks of “HO HUM”
Every so often, something different catches your eye to snag interest for a second look.
Opportunity:
For one to ignore and watch it pass.
Or grab with both hands, very tightly.
First, chance to meet to rekindle locals connections and an urge to share prose.
Second a FB post of an ex-work mate invite to a ‘Sausage Sizzle’ 11 hours away.
A planned trip from Hill to Hill:
Collect two mates from ‘Bonnie Hill’ [central NSW Coast] for a four day North West NSW Corner Country reminisce, centred around Tibooburra, before returning back home through Broken Hill into the inside country.
To our respective home/work base of rural NSW and Coastal NSW.
EN ROUTE WE HAD TO CROSS TWO INVISABLE LINES:
ONE: Inside Country—Outside Country Line:
The concept is an ill-defined random line that differentiates from closer settled areas into much sparser populated parts of Australia.
This line is not shown clearly on a map but one instinctively is aware when it is crossed, by not only the landscape but also the people and animal inhabitants.
TWO: The Black Stump:
There is much written about “Black Stump”
Black stump is an Australian expression for an imaginary point beyond which the country is considered remote or uncivilised, an abstract marker of the limits of established settlement.
One theory, the use of black stumps as markers when directing travellers.
At least three regional Australian towns claim the expression originated in their general vicinity.
The first term "Black stump" was used as land markers on a surveyor’s plan first referred to as a boundary marker in a NSW court case involving a land dispute.
[1] The case refers to vacant land at Woolloomooloo where a surveyor had difficulty in ascertaining the boundaries from the days of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
He pointed to some old stumps, which he said had been marked...defendant would not admit that the cross line marked by me on the plan was not part of his boundary...
He said it ran to a black stump beyond the line to run somewhere thereabouts.
Anyway, suffice to say the ‘Inside/Outside’ Line and the ‘Black Stump’ are synonymous for the purpose of this tale, so we are going with:
The following quote from John Wynnum's I'm a Jack, all Right (1967; p. 18) conveys this meaning: "It's way back o' Bourke. Beyond the Black Stump"
So we arrived and departed Bourke to head west to our first stop.
“Metropolis of Wanaaring”
Arriving at nightfall, we had well passed, but not actually sighted, both Aussie historical icons.
Our welcome was as warm as it ever was with mates of old and new ones too.
With cabins and showers very comfortable and clean.
Our journey crossing paths of the likes of Sturt and Kidman, two men of vision and stamina.
Next destination “Tibooburra Pub”
Filled the bank of Fuzzies To The Brim
Hit the town at 4, wasn’t long before we went through the bar room door.
Had clear aims to re-meet warm faces, drink beer and sell some books.
After all, local blokes and girls want to see their name and face in print.
Add a few to travellers getting into the party spirit of the Family Hotel.
To summarise, for myself, the whole zone was stacked to the brim with:
“Warm Natural Fuzzies” to be stored in my personal space for eternity.
As well the memory of a ‘Face Plant’ rescuing dogs tied up in a storm drain, after being made aware of 18mls of rain outside the door.
The biggest business in town was still running.
Not sugar, not timber but the “Rumour Mill” where everyone knows everyone’s business, with varying accounts of the same happenings since my last visit Tib Town and district but no one minds or take offence because all opinions are sacred.
THE TALE OF TWO TIB TOWN CATS
ADDITIONAL LINK TO CLICK ON
Two travelling companions, Graeme and Virginia Cox were fascinated by the unique Tib Library where book loan is free on the condition you leave one for others to read.
Virginia, a recently retired librarian had to be dragged away from reorganising the whole show because of time constraints to hit the road.
SIDE TRIP TO MILPARINKA.
As there is no shire to directly tend to roads, when it rains, the roads are simply closed to prevent them becoming impassable, the only option for the following day was an afternoon visit to “Milparinka Water Hole”
An early government administration centre, complete with court house and iconic pub.
More recently, after substantial government support to breath life into the region, catering for the vital ‘Grey Nomad’ financial input, the town now boasts celebration of the past in the form of two outback informative museums.
A bit of activity on arrival with the ‘First response Community Service’ attending to a collapsed traveller waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Luke and Loraine, from “Peak Hill Station” dropped what they were doing, changed uniform from work clothes to ambo gear, loaded medical kit into the work ute to attend.
People in the bush-look after people in the bush
Thank you, Tibooburra Town:
For your very warm welcome for an impromptu recent return trip initiated by Wayno's sausage sizzle on 29th.
It was like no time had passed since my departure a couple of years ago.
For my two travelling companions from Port Macquarie, the corner country gained two new fans of corner country and Tib.
Thanks for the support and those who purchased my book that I put together to document my time of the people and district.
BETWEEN THE HILLS TO HOME:
Time to hit the road with my friends from Bonnie Hills to wind our way home via Broken Hill, the only road dry enough after the rain.
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