My Holiday trip to Groovin' The Moo 2 - Narrandera

Out past the `Black Stump' there's a much nicer grey one and everything is so much more greener. Those country folk really should get rid of the black stump, it's bad luck and very ugly.

One day, this will all belong to Russell Crowe.


A crowd of wellwishers gather to wish well Princess Mary, Crown Prince Fredrick and their new baby `Darryl' who made a brief if unexpected appearance at Groovin' the Moo 2 in Narrandera.


Grinspoons lead singer..um, that guy with the hat, leads the crowd in a touching version of Peter Allens `Tenterfield Saddler'.


Grinspoon went off mate!


Taking a break from making Sandwiches were from left to clockwise, Sheral Blunt, 18 of `Old Widgeevale'. Nerida Nuffhill, 18 from `Narrandera Horse Feed and hardware'. Dufflyn `Pickles' Tickle, 22 of `Tickle Brother's Spanner Alignments' and new apprentice hairdresser at `Cherry's Hair', Mershell Horsenail, 17 of the old Narrandera Route Road.

This is a Newcastle Hip Hop band called `Local Knowledge'. Obviously their knowledge extended only to the Newcastle area as they were chased out of town the next day for going somewhere in someone they shouldn't have.

The Town Mayor's son, Tristian Bugle, enjoys the show put on by these city folk and taps out an asynchopatic rhythm on his plastic knuckle and knee cap.


Here's a view of the stage just after Derylyn Hodge, winner of the Narrandera Hotel `Spot the talent' contest sang her version of `I can't smile without you' with back up by her younger `special' brother Terry and his musical Casio calculator set.

Elderly folk about Narrandera put on these masks about this time of the year and chase the kiddies of the town about so that they feel welcome.


This is how the town of Narrandera looks after one has played in the grain silo after a heavy rain and the mould has set in.


Towns like Narrandera used to rely on Wool and Grain for their economy. Nowadays it's `Tunnel Worm' and CWA drives that keep Towns like this on their feet and out of the back paddock.


This is Canola. Kiddies from the countryside gather each December after it's been harvested and squeeze the flowers hard between their stunted little fingers until oil drips out of them. Then big people with large wooden paddles can make butter out of it.

Canola can be a handy disinfectant when sprayed with disinfectant.

These flowers are called `Patterson's Curse' and are named after Ces Patterson, the first and only openly gay man on the gold fields during the 1860's.
Hey?! Now there's an idea for a tv series!

This was my first taste of how green the countryside was as I drove through Gulgong to Wellington. Note the absence of houses and people. This is a sure sign that you are in the country and will soon be able to buy homemade cauliflower jams from nosey elderly folk who remember things.