It seems as though the question to ask in the Upper Hunter Shire is not, “What will I do this weekend” but “What will I miss out on”?
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Every weekend and most week days have some event or gathering on and the weekend just gone was no exception.
Dare I say that Murrurundi took the honours for most activities but that is not to say that there were not plenty of things on in the lower end of our shire or its extremities.
For such a small community they sure can put on a show and if you were in Murrurundi on Saturday you could visit the Rotary Spring Flower and Garden Party, the Norvill Art Prize exhibition, the Beersheba Day commemorations, the Murra County Markets or the opening of the Swinging Bridge following its $70,000 restoration.
All of this, not to mention the everyday attractions of the Historical Society’s World War 1 display and Museum, the Pioneers Cottage and the many quaint and fascinating “cottage industry” shops that line the main street and surrounds where my wife and friends found good cause to spend money!
Congratulations to all of those involved in the Beersheba Day commemoration which marked the 97th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba.
It drew a good crowd of onlookers and ran well in the very hot weather with only a few casualties from the heat.
The Murrurundi Troop of the 12th Light Horse Regiment stood watch over proceedings with the Scone RSL Pipes and Drums, while our mayor and retired Major Roderick D White AM RFD, officiated.
After the commemoration it seemed like only a few minutes and the Wilson Memorial Oval had been cleared of cannon, infantry, pipe band and the odd horse deposit to make way for a local cricket match on the relatively new cricket pitch that council is proud to have helped install.
Later in the day the “Murulla Street Pedestrian Bridge” or “Swinging Bridge” as it is more commonly and affectionately known, was opened by the mayor and Murrurundi Citizen of the Year Brian Hunt.
It should be noted that at the behest of the local community and in keeping with the shire’s strategic policies, $70,000 was spent on this heritage listed item and although council is unable to generally justify maintaining timber bridges that are old and in a poor state of repair, this was a special case with a great outcome.
This point was emphasised by Rodney Swansborough before Brian Hunt shared some short stories with the audience about childhood memories of using the bridge, which really lent weight to the significance of this particular bridge to the local community.
Let’s all hope that it remains in situ for many years to come and that council can continue “building bridges”!
While so much was happening at Murrurundi, there was also campdrafting at Wingen, the official opening of the Strathearn Retirement Village at Scone, celebrations at Scone High School for their 50th year of operating and the Beef Bonanza at White Park.
I am sure that there was more on, but by the time I got my head around all of these activities my diary was full.
A personal “thank you and well done” to the mayor who managed to attend and officiate at many of these gatherings; driving between Murrurundi and Scone twice in the same day to do so and without delegating his duties.