Utes in The Paddock - Condobolin- NSW

Travelling along an isolated country New South Wales road, within the heart of Lachlan River country, just minding our own business - one of those brown touristy signs, pops up out of now where.  Well, we weren't exactly no where - we were actually nearing a small town called Ootha - just between Forbes and Condobolin.

The Sign - well it reads "Utes In The Paddock' - well needless to say the temptation was all to much and even in Big Red, the stretch of dirt road did not daunt us. The road appears like any other, with sheep grazing with their young in the paddocks along side.  Further down the road we see some 'anthill' like formations jutting out from behind a fence - getting closer we realise that we have found our "Utes In The Paddock".  A truly unique and remarkable art installation - all a part of Burrawang West Station.

As an initiative to attract tourists to the small NSW town of Ootha, many residents donated the utes, and many a famous artist, their gift of artistry to instigate the project and now some years later there is now some 17 pieces of artwork - each with their own artistic interpretation - each as unique and individual as the next.

 The Spirit of the Bush is Truly Alive!!

And this artwork is truly a dedication to those bush people......  The bush land surrounding the installation offers a blank canvas to each of the artists, and is one of Australia's truly unique art galleries.

Thousands of people visit the gallery every year to witness and promote the beauty and wonder of what is Lachlan River Country -  that is the back drop for many of the very well known artists. Artists such as well known Silverton artist Peter Brown and John Murray from Lightening Ridge.

 

 "Go Vegemite"

Ute:  1960 FB                                                                                   Artist: Rob Keen

Donated by the Kirk Family

"I said. 'Do you speak a my language?'. He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich. 

I Come from the land down under...."- Down Under - by Men at Work.

Vegemite take the cake for the growing Aussie Children who spread the smooth, salty, sticky food paste made from yeast extract, on just about anything edible.  And next to an Australian passport, a stash of Vegemite is the easiest way of identifying an Aussie Traveller.

Originally introduced in 2 oz amber glass jars in 1923, a 115gm jar of Vegemite was the first produced into Australian supermarkets to be electronically scanned.  By the late 1990's the country went through 22 million jars a year - making us a country of happy little vegemites"!

UteZilla

  

Artists:  Jim Moginie & Stephen Coburn

Ute:  1957 FE                                                               Ute Donated by  Barry Wright

Interfering with nature has its consequences.  Once there was Frankenstein - then came "Godzilla".  And now...meet UteZilla!

Super adapted, UteZilla deserves some respect.  A wonder mother, she is almost always pregnant, has a joey in her pouch and a larger offspring at the heel and can produce two different kinds of milk simultaneously for the newborn and the older Joey.

If she is under prssure, she stops breeding altogether, creating her own 'dry period', during times of prolonged drought.  And she even determines the gender of her offspring, waiting t bear males, until she is older.

If hurried, she tucks her joey safely away in her pouch and uses her phenomenal leaping power to rapidly travel long distances.

Left alone, she is a picture of contentment, but she is no 'Skippy'.  Threaten her or her joey and she becomes ...the mother of all mothers.  So run when she stands to fight or watch out.  If her powerful punch doesn't get you, her killer kick will.

Drizakubra

Ute: 1981 WB                                                                    Artist: Belinda Williams

Ute Donated by:      Chris Muir and Matthew Collin

Typically clad in his Driza-Bone oilskin coat and Akubra hat,

a bushman symbolizes the spirit of the bush and the character of Australia's outback people.  Hardworking, practical, down to earth, rugged and reliable.

TribUte

Ute:  1964 EH                                                                              Artist:  Lewis Burns

Ute Donated by: Hugh Hall and Coobang Pastoral Co.

"The traditional symbols used in Aboriginal art across the country, tell stories of the land and the tribes, depict our culture and our being".  - Lewis Burns.

This is the story of the local Wiradjuri people.  Dots represent life force, activity and movement. U shape is the ground imprint left by sitting cross legged.

Tools distinguish women from men around the campfire;  Coolamon (bark or wooden dish) and gunny (digging stick) indicate women who gather bush tucker, and spears and boomerangs identify men. 

The Southern Cross and dreamtime  corroboree depict the creation dance in the sky.  Hands represent ancestors' spirits, with a single hand holding a painting to explain how aboriginal culture is passed on through art, stories, song and dance.  A road or modern path behind rivers and water holes to show that nature is still more important to Aboriginal Culture and survival than manmade inventions.

Dame Edna's Looute

Ute:  1965 HD                                                                              Artist:  Karen Tooth

Ute Donated by:  Taylors Auto

An Icon...On an icon...In an icon

Instantly recognised as one of Australia's great personalities, Dame Edna transformed herself from housewife to megastar.  A transformation unparrelled in our country's.  Growth from an isolated wild coolony to an innovtive player on the world stage.

On an icon...once there was a toilet outback in every yard of every house in Australia.  Commonly referred to as the 'dunny', it is a true social and economic leveler.  No matter who we are, we all have to make the trip 'outback'.  In an icon...the holden utes - development reflects the changing social history of this country from a practical workhorse in earlier times,  to a performance focused sports vehicle for today's work hard, play hard generation.  What a surprise for all, for us to innocently discover Dame Edna on her Throne, reading her local newspaper.

Circle Work

Ute:  1972 HQ                                                                             Artist:  John Murray

Ute Donated by:  Mike Taylor

True to the native bird's typically silly behaviour, these young galah's are enjoying the great Australian Tradition of doing circle work (doing donuts).

The sculptured galah on top represents the fun police towing away the ute.

Epitaph to Fossil Fuels

Ute:  1977 HZ                                                                          Artist:  Shane Gehlert

Ute donated by:  Taylors Auto Centre                  Bowsers Donated: Danny Mooney

The all seeing eye watches as we struggle to break our dependance on dwindling fossil fuel resources.  This satirical presentation comments on the the destructive impact of various powerful influences within modern culture on the well being of humans and our environment.  Signature characters include "Roboroo" "St Bilby", (patron saint of global warming) and "Sam the Oil Man", with Chinese symbols of oil and water.

Emute

Ute: 1975 HJ                                                                              Artist:  Peter Browne

Ute donated by Burrawang West St.

Like kangaroos and echidnas, the presence of emus is a sure sign your in the bush.  Comical looking creatures, their balding heads with oversized eyes, top necks that seem to stretch too far above bulbous bodies.  They strut like courtesans at walking pace, but as lyricist John Williamson say of the emu, "He can't fly, but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo".

The Stockman

Ute:  1958 FC                                                                           Artist:  Michael Jones

Ute donated by:  Russell and Tanya Jones

Often romanticized in classic literature, our outback hero's, come to life in this tribute to the stockman.  Droving the "long paddock" means sleeping rough and making the most of limited resources along the way.  Essential to survival in the outback is the intimate knowledge of the land shared by Aboriginal stockman.

Clancy Stops The Overflow

Ute:  1991 VS                                                                        Artist:  Peter Mortimore

Ute Donated by:  Parkes Auto Wreckers

Our most celebrated stockman comes to the rescue again, this time preventing a disastrous waste of valuable "Bundy".  With the help of his loyal steed, "Banjo", Clancy arrives just in the nick of time to the save the spillage of liquid gold that ensures any party is fair dinkum Aussie.

Central West Medley

Ute:  1961 EK                                                                                Artist:  Keith Willis

This comical recollection of the life and times of our early settlers, illustrates the indelible heritage of their character on outback society.

Against the backdrop of a rugged yet colorful landscape, human eccentricity prevails as the heart of classic Aussie humour.

Clean Running

Ute:  1954 FJ                                                                              Artist:  Paul Blahuta

Ute Donated by Burrawang West Station and Taylor's Auto

Famous outlaw Ned Kelly stays true to form as he pulls off another hold up.

This time the victim is the artist, who felt compelled to use Ned's form and story as an integral part of outback history.  The horses transparency represents the fact that the horses are not native to Australia, so not a solid part of its landscape.  In this scene, they provide and alternate source of energy...true clean horse power.

Golden Valley

Ute:  1970 HG                                                                          Artist:  Greg Breman

Donated by:  George Brown

From colonial times, rural enterprise has played a pivotal role in our country's economic health.  innovative pursuit of all facets of rural industry continues to contribute significantly to the flow of wealth in outback Australia, as depicted in the traditional montage of sheep shearing, livestock grazing, irrigation and cropping.

Ute Of Arms

Ute:  1952 FX                                             Artists:  Brad Brown and Scott Edwards

Donated by:  Taylors Auto Centre

Where, there's a will, there's a way.  Like the ever present ants of the outback, Aussie's get through it, go around it, dig under it or just get over it.  The red kangaroo and emu, which can't move backward, were chosen as the symbols of progressive, pioneering spirit of Australian people in the Country's Coat of Arms.

What more fitting place could there be for the first model Holden ute than at the heart of this outback interpretation of the same theme?  No matter which way the wind blows, the ute is always facing forward.

Wiradjuri 'Uth' Story

Ute:  1993 VS                          Artists:  Young People of Condobolin Youth Services

Donated by:  NRMA Insurance

Painted as seen from above, this artwork depicts travelling, throughout the Wiradjuri area, of landscape of rivers, land and animals.

As in the Aboriginal flag, colors in the painting have specific meaning, red represents the earth, black symbolises people and yellow suggests the sun.  Rivers running through the are bring life to the land and denoted by the color white. U shapes show where people gather around white circle waterholes and black circle campfires.  Gathering in such a manner is strong tradition for the Wiradjuri people.  The flow of the Lachlan River and adjoining creeks is represented by curving white line.  In keeping with tradition, the young artists signed their work with their hand prints.

Supplementary Feeder

When the feed is scarce and the livestock are hungry, a bale in the ute is a life or death story;  The humming and squeaking as it crosses hard ground, brings cttle running from a long way around.  Cause a ute in the paddock is a promising sound.

Dents and dings across this utes boy testify to the fact that livestock, focused on food, show little respect for the feeder from which the food falls.  Like wrinkles of age, its body worn by tough times on the land.  Life outback is full of challenge.  Good times and bad, it leaves its mark on the body and soul.  Here, a love of living on the land "beyond the sandstone' curtain" is painted into life.  Landscapes of vivid colors. Charismatic characters.  A weathered Yarrabandai woolshed. And the farmer's best friend...a paddock bashing ute.

Simple Pleasures

Ute:  1968 HK                                                                                Artist:  Leo Robba

Donated by:  Time and Sue Jones

There's simple pleasure in the natural beauty of the Lachlan River Valley.  Vast stretches of waving grass in shades of green and tawny gold.  Elegant stands of swaying eucalpt.  Glistening waterways.  A broad glistening canopy of night sky.  Early settlers might have seen a different picture when tehy arrived in the bush, way out west from the relatively safe coastal coolony.  Whatever their hardships and discomforts were, these peioneering, enterprising immigrants left enduring evidence of their success.  Success with the land i shown by fields of grazing grass for sheep that supplied the wood industry on which the nation was built.

Success with harsh condition is demonstrated in every classic Australian homestead with wide covered verandahs. to protect against a blazing sun, numerous doorways and windows to catch the breeze, and high ceilings to pull warm summer air away from the ground.  And success with their commitment to create a better life for themselves is captured in its purest demonstration of comfort and pride by a garden of simple pleasures.

The descriptions and interpretations of the artwork is as supplied by the plaques installed along with the artwork.  This installation is just an outstanding credit to those that created it and a tribute to the people of the outback.

If given the opportunity it is well worth the visit.

Trangie To Condobolin

After a lovely few days in Trangie, with Kay and Barry, we were determined to get to the border.  Hell or high water - we were going to get there this time.  With a brief weekend at Griffith with the Walters Clan, we were on the road.  Decided to take the road from Trangie to Tullamore, where we had a brief stop over to catch up on some Walters family history.

The road was not the best, so taking it fairly easy we just took our time, just enjoying the countryside pass us by. Just enjoying being on the road for real this time.   The paddocks are dry, but with plenty of feed for the many sheep that we see, many with young at foot.

Barry at Rabbit Trap Hotel

Our first stop was Albert - home of the well known Rabbit Trap Hotel. The pub of course is the main point of interest in the town and the story is told that Barry's dad had his first beer at this pub the age of 16.  Loading bags of wheat by hand in the middle of summer was all too much for him, so he took himself off to the pub and sculled a schooner of beer - not sure how much more work got done that day.  The pub is decorated with lots and lots of different rabbit traps- all shapes and forms.

Rabbit Traps Everywhere

Who Dares Complain- lol

We were led to believe that Albert was home to the 'Biggest Rabbit Trap', but we are still yet to find it.

Since our last visit, a small but lovely little caravan park has been built opposite the pub, and has a number of little cabins available for hire.  Also available is some powered sites for those with caravans and mobile homes - oh well - maybe next time.

The Rabbit Trap Hotel - Albert NSW

The Caravan Park opposite the Pub

A  Cartoon of the Rabbit Trap

After a bite to eat - it was back on the road again, with Muddie making sure that we were headed in the right direction.  It was off to Tullamore.

Co-Driver - Muddie

Barry's Dad spend his child hood years in Tullamore and he and his sister are remembered on the war memorial there.  We saw this last in 2007 when we held a family reunion there, but it was good to stop again and check it out again.  We also visited the new dump point at the show ground, where we had stayed for the reunion.  Good to see that our donation money for the trees - has not been spent!

Barry at the Memorial

Tullamore Railway Station

 Bit hard to read from the photo, but on the door its says - please present tokens"....

The Tullamore Silo's

Sunset at Gum Bend Lake

Heading towards Condobolin we passed through a little town called Ootha.  Now we will come back and re-visit Ootha in our next blog - called "Utes In The Paddock".  Deserves a blog of its own, as it it just something really special.

So make sure you get to read our next blog.

Time was getting on and we wanted to get to Condobolin that night, so back on the road we went.  Didn't take us that long and we were soon camped at a lovely place called Gum Bend Lake - a free camp along side the lake, and it was proving very popular, as there were about 20 visitors there that night.  A camp we must put on our list for future use.

Oh it was a great day, but just another day in the life of a grey nomad -many more to come.

Cassillis to Mendooran

Leaving the dust and the pollution of the Hunter Valley behind us, we headed out the Golden Highway - a little late in the day, but with only a short day ahead of us - making Cassillis our camp for the night.  Having only ever driven through Cassillis once before, it was great to actually take the time to walk this funny but almost extinct little town.

It's not until you walk around some of these little towns that you really get to see what they have to offer.  The towns folk are so friendly and love to pull you up and have a chat.  Tourists being somewhat of    a rarity.

Allan Cunningham, the explorer discovered the district in 1823 and settlement was established through the 1820’s by the predominance of wealthy landholders with the properties (called stations) ranging from five to twenty thousand acres, their pursuits being mainly pastoral. Cassilis is surrounded by the same historic properties today, although some have increased acreage up to 40,000 acres.  The entire village is heritage listed, inlcuding the Royal Hotel, The Anglican Church, the Police Station and Court House and quite a few other buildings.

St Columba Anglican Church

The Old Cemetery of St Columba

Old Headstone

 This old headstone caught my imagination - might be just be me?? but can you see the eyes and what appears to be a face emerging out of the stone?

The Royal Hotel

The Old Police Station and Court House

Catholic Church

Main Street - Cassillis

The amazing tree roots that look like they have been melted down onto the gutter

The Remains of the Old Masonic Lodge

Munmurra River

Camp Ground at Cassillis Rec Ground

Recreation Ground - Cassillis

Great little camp ground for just $10 per night for a powered site and the best hot showers. Take the time to take a break in Cassillis.

Barry At Dunedoo-just making sure he knew where we where going.

Hitting the road again we headed the short 40 kms to Dunedoo. A short stop over for lunch at the local and to stock up on groceries we hit the road for our final few kilometers for the day to Mendooran.  A must see along the way is the famous Ivy Rocks.  The country side is very dry and much in need of rain, and knowing our luck it surely will sometime in the near future.

Ivy Rock

The road to Mendooran is good bitumen road, and once in the town, you follow the signs to the camping ground and with about 6 acres to choose from - you would be hard pressed not to find a suitable site. All with water views of the Castlereagh River.   Just the basic facilities with toilets and a cold shower, but plenty of water and that great opportunity to enjoy that camp fire and enjoy the company of the many other fellow travellers.  So interesting to meet some people and find out where they are going and hear the tales of their adventures along the road.

Our First Night at Mendooran, with Don, Mick, Lorraine and Jenny

When we arrived at e met with Jenny and Mick, first time long term travellers' from Tasmania.  Later in the afternoon, Don and Lorraine arrived from the Central Coast, on their way to Lightening Ridge.  Next thing we are all gathered around a communal campfire enjoying happy hour.  The friendships that have ensured from these few days will be everlasting, we are sure.

Big Full Moon Over Mendooran

Julie, Lorraine and Jenny enjoying happy hour

Don - Telling one of his tall stories along with Peter and Mick

Other fellow travellers joined us later - Julie and Peter Gray from Old Bar - so from what started out as 6 of us - later turned into 12.  What a great time we had and it was really hard for all of us to go our separate ways, over the next couple of days.

The village of Mendooran, with its 300 odd residents,was first discovered in 1817 by John Oxley, on one of first inland expeditions.The small village grew in the 1860s on the old station near the bridge which passed over the Castlereagh River. As at 1866 there were 24 residents recorded in the area. The village was called Mundooran until the 1920's when the name was changed to Mendooran.  The Murals of Mendooran are a main attraction.

One of the 24 Murals of Mendooran

The free campsite on the banks of the Castlereagh River is one of the best you will find, and it is just great to be able to return the favour to the towns people by enjoying a meal at the local pub - the $10 Friday night fillet steak meal being a highlight - the company of the locals, just an added bonus.

Autumn Time

 Autumn is such a wonderful time to be travelling and gives me the opportunity to take shots like this, the colors just so wonderfully inspiring.  Some of the nights getting quite cool now, but the days have just been wonderful

Barry at our Mendooran Camp

We left Mendorran and headed to Brocklehurst, just out of Dubbo.  Another free camp, but not one that I would call our best, and so popular that it is more like  a caravan park.  No water either, which is a bit of an issue when free camping.  Decided to move on to Trangie yesterday after the rain started (see 'told you so lol') as the sites where were very unlevel and causing us some concern, about whether we would be able to get out if it continued to rain.  And rain it did and still is.

So here we are holed up in the Trangie Caravan Park, which is just great - staying for a few days to catch up with family and the washing, before we continue heading westward.

Hope you are all enjoying following our travels and the best is ahead of us.

Follow the links to become a follower of our blog so that you get email updates of our latest blog entries.

Hope to be headed to Hermidale for our next stop and hoping to make Renmark for the 10th of next month for the hot air balloon festival.  We are also booked in for the CMCA rally in Kalgoolie in October which we are looking forward to.

So until next time - family and friends

Nundle Chinese Festival - Easter - 2011

During our stay back here in the valley, we took the opportunity to visit the Nundle Chinese Festival, which is held every Easter.

Nundle’s Chinese Heritage

From the 1850’s to the 1880’s thousands of people came to what was then called the Peel River Diggings which incorporated Nundle, Happy Valley, Hanging Rock, and Bowling Alley Point. Among the rush of people were numerous Chinese; most looking for gold, plus a few came to set up stores and gardens to supply the diggers. Illness or accidents took the lives of many searching the hills, and the Bowling Alley Point and Nundle Cemeteries became their final resting-places while the majority left when gold petered out or new fields beckoned. Some stayed on and became a permanent part of Nundle and district history.

The Government Officials on the Gold Fields of the 1860’s to 1880’s were ‘Englishmen’ and had some difficulty with the Chinese language. The names of Chinese miners were simply written down as they sounded; the result was that what was recorded may not have born close resemblance to the actual names! The word ‘Ah’, a term of respect, was often prefixed to the Chinese names when they were recorded in the official documents of the day.

Today, the Chinese tradition continues on in Nundle, and as you move around the town walking the lovely pathways and  tree lined streets, there are many remnants of the Chines, and hence the Easter Festival each year.  

Beautiful Autumn Trees - line the streets of Nundle

One of the many market stalls - selling hand dye silk scarves

Chinese Musiician playing  the erhu

Chinese Harp

Many street stalls, give the visitor plenty to see and do. Street musicians with their wonderful Chinese instruments like the erhu and the Chinese harp add a distinct flavour to the day.  Many hours can be spent trolling the many goodies in amongst the stalls and the usual wonderful array of antique shops and of course a visit is not complete without a visit to the Nundle Woollen Mills.  Take the time to visit the Nundle Broom shop and survey the wonderful array of kitchen implements and the many different types of hand made millet brooms.

Our usual visit to Nundle is never complete without a visit to the Nundle Pub- specially on a Sunday when they serve their roast dinner - oh what a treat that is.

The celebrate the occasion of the Chinese Festival we visited Mr Lee's Stall and Barry had his first taste of a pork bun - oh  so many years since I have had one of them.

Mr Lees - Pork Buns

The highlight of the day would be the dance of the dragon.

The Mythical Chinese Dragon

Chinese Rhythm Band

The Chinese Dragon

The dragon, a mythical creature, commands a great deal of respect in Chinese culture and has done so for many centuries.

Unlike the dragon in western culture which is a dreaded and feared creature, the Chinese dragon is associated with pleasant things such as goodness, greatness, blessing, boldness, intelligence, abundance and prosperity.

A day that we can highly recommend to all and Nundle is well worth the visit at the best of times.

Our route home took us down Mt Crawney, and one of the last times we came down this road was on a day many years ago - on the day that Barry took me on our first date - Awwwww lol- Still a beautiful drive and one where you can see the biggest displays of wild grass trees - which go for miles down the  road.

Grass Trees

What a nice day out, but time to leave and head back to Aberdeen.  Waiting around to see what is happening with Barry's Dad, who has just gone into the nursing home.

Our plans now are to leave here on Monday and slowly make our way to Western Australia.  Who knows when we will get there - no particular time- - who knows what we will run into when we get past this valley.  Can't wait to hit the road again and start seeing some new things, meeting new people and oh to experience all these new things that are ahead of us.