The Gundaroo Gazette Community | Cohesion | Harmony www.gundaroo.org Volume 204 Print circulation 600 — Readership keeps growing November 2020 Gundaroo blessed with memorable Spring events Spring has on the whole been very acts to six for a semi-final, and then kind to Gundaroo. four performing in the Grand Final on We have continued to stay free of the 24 October. The McGrath-sponsored virus that has plagued so much of the contest was won by Canberra teenage world. Good rain has meant vigorous singer-songwriter Madi Kate (pictured). growth of pastures and flowers (although some properties have suffered flooding). And we have been treated to some great entertainment – with more to come – and to news of a new prize-winning artist in our midst. been helping local musicians by holding regular music events since re-opening Live music returned to the Colonial Inn in May. (See more on pages 10–11.) and to Tallagandra Hill, playing to And more is to come. (See ad page 12.) COVID-safe sell-out ‘crowds’. As well as enjoying the return of live At the Inn, three heats of the Gundaroo music to our favourite venues, we also Emerging Muso battle (GEM) over had the pleasure of taking part in the three weekends reduced 12 ‘emerging’ the Gundaroo School P&C ‘Silent An evening concert followed, closing Auction’ on Friday 6 November. This In this issue … with Canberra band, Dark Horse was organised as an alternative to the Local News pp 1–4 (pictured, above right). The event was usual rowdy live auction Quiz Night, From ‘The Desk’ p 4 known as the Gundaroo Music Wedge – which is the annual fund-raiser for the Community Noticeboard pp 4–5 an ‘in-between’ event, not a ‘festival’, school. The Silent Auction, conducted Fire Brigade bulletin p 6 but more than just a concert with one by the experienced duo of spruikers at Scouts p 7 or two acts. (A pictorial feature of the the pub (Choppy and Scott), was a huge School News p 8 nine-act Wedge is on pages 10 and 11.) success. (See more on page 2.) Country kids p 9 Helped by sponsors, roving buckets and All this excitement was capped off with Local music – Pictorial pp 10–11 online donations, the Wedge raised the news that one of Gundaroo’s metal The Remains of the Day p 13 $15,000 for MND association of NSW, fabricator artisans, Dave Perkins, had Gundaroo Store – Medieval years p 15 the primary reason the Gundaroo been awarded a $10,000 prize at the Growing native flowers p 17 Music Festival was created. And at the annual Sculptures in the Garden Rock or turtle? p 19 end of November, the pub has two exhibition in Mudgee. And Dave’s prize- Gundaroo Sport p 21 evenings of the Great Southern Nights winning sculpture will now be installed Dog smiles p 21 concert series. (See ads page 7.) as public art in the Sculpture Walk in Eateries p 23 Not far out of town, Tallagandra Hill Mudgee – valuable recognition and Church services p 23 exposure. (See more on page 2.) Emergency & community contacts p 24 Winery – blessed with large open indoor and outdoor spaces – has also Quotes for the month “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) American naturalist, essayist, poet and philosopher “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.” Martin Luther King Jnr (1929–1968, assassinated) American Christian minister and civil rights activist The Gundaroo Gazette 1 November 2020 LOCAL NEWS Big prize for Gundaroo at Silent Auction surprise ‘Sculptures in the Garden’ The school P&C’s fund-raising Silent Dave Perkins, popular long-time Auction surprised everyone. Open for a Gundaroo resident, has won a major week to receive donated items and prize at the annual ‘Sculptures in the conducted on Friday 6 November, the Garden’ exhibition in Mudgee. Silent Auction more than made up for th the disappointment of the annual Quiz At the 10 anniversary of the Night and auction having been cancelled exhibition – the best attended ever, because of the COVID-19 restrictions. despite the COVID-19 restrictions – Dave The call for donations of items to bid on was awarded the $10,000 Friends of Sculptures in the Garden Acquisition was overwhelming, attracting 49 highly diverse items from community The new bore Prize for his sculpture Connect (photo by is expected to Amber Hooper). members and local businesses. These included personal and professional be operational Connect and the two services, products and equipment, and in November, other ‘acquisition food, wine, and accommodation. after relocation prize’ works will be The auction was completed and the of the pump added to Mudgee’s and shed. winning bids announced as part of the Lawson Park Troy Willoughby Sculpture Walk, a Colonial Inn’s Friday night raffle (Gunning Ag & public art installation Facebook live stream, run by Choppy Water) and on the banks of the and Scott, with School Principal Nigel as Andrew Lemon a special guest (pictured). (APL Electircal Cudgegong River. Services) start re- Readers of The routing the power and water Gundaroo Gazette to the new bore. may recall Dave as one of three The playground shade-and-solar structure Gundaroo metal is awaiting the arrival of revised plans. But designers and it still targeted to be completed by the end fabricators featured of the year. The specialised footings will be in the May 2019 the first important stage. The shelter has edition, in which Dave described himself some important requirements for wind, as a “bushie with a hammer and welder”. weight and height. This sells short Beyond Gundaroo Park, new boundary his ingenuity fencing at the Common has begun, with a and grant from RES, the new proponents of the Springdale Solar Farm. imagination to According to teacher Bec Harris, there make his was a big rush of bids in the last couple sculptures from of hours – even minutes! pieces of scrap metal “to give When all the winning bids were them another announced and tallied, the total was chance at life”. $7,757. This is a wonderful and surprising Dave has amount from this novel ‘virtual’ method, displayed and when compared with the $11,500 raised sold many at last year’s highly convivial Quiz Night sculptures and noisy live auction. “That’s not a fence.” privately and at The money will be put towards a new Michael Cliff has done the first leg (along exhibitions and technology space within the school, Dairy Creek Road from the Gundaroo tip wineries for several years. which will include a maker space for westward to the corner), and is progressing This was the fifth year Dave has shown robotics and a mini film studio. on the northern strain to the Marked Tree at Mudgee, where ‘Sculptures in the The P&C has offered its sincere thanks Road intersection. Garden’ is held on the property ‘Rosby’, to everyone involved, as yet another “THAT’S a fence!” owned by the Norton-Knight family. example of our wonderful community ‘Rosby Wines and Guesthouse’ also has a coming together to support the Gundaroo connection. The exhibition Gundaroo school. founder and curator, Kay Norton-Knight, has a daughter in Gundaroo – Emma Gundaroo Park works Gaggin, a resident of Harp Street with her speeding up husband and three small children. Emma The works to upgrade Gundaroo Park was the source of information for this facilities are moving forward – some The Gundaroo Gazette, especially about the event and its history. have said “at a glacial pace”. But moving nonetheless Historical Society elects new Although Dave has sold many sculptures The road base pad has now been laid privately and at exhibitions in Mudgee President and plans for 2021 and Dungog, he says he is pretty chuffed for the new Amenities Block. Some Gundaroo and District Historical Society further approvals have been requested about the recognition that this prize and has a new President and Secretary, and and are expected soon. (Initial the selection for public art will bring to has farewelled two longstanding his sculptures. earthworks are pictured above right.) committee members. The Gundaroo Gazette 2 November 2020 LOCAL NEWS At its Annual General Meeting on The objective was for Council to witness Gundaroo tip improvements Monday 9 November, the following and discuss the downstream impact of inch forward Executive and Committee were elected. the redirection of overland flow from the Here is a précis of relevant parts of Common into a single channel in Lot President: Sue Burns Council’s reply to questions from The Street (pictured). Vice-President: Ron Miller Gundaroo Gazette about constructing a Secretary: Esther Robinson standard hopper pad and unloading Treasurer/Membership: Allan Gibson ramp at the tip. Archive Officer: Vacant • The design is still being finalised. Publicity and Promotion: Ron Miller Committee: Justin Barwick, • A meeting with staff on site will choose the most workable location for “traffic Ann Barwick flow and logistics”. Caroline Milne and Peter Firth retired • Construction “will likely take only a from the committee. couple of months from the time it is Caroline has provided valuable archival commenced”. skills and knowledge. GSDS has had a • “It is hoped that construction can few members express their interest in commence before the end of this year, filling this vacancy, and learning to use and if not, early next year.” the Mosaic database. While we wait for the detention basin Watch this space. Peter was instrumental in establishing and diversion bank proposed for the the GDHS in 2011, and has provided Common to gain final approvals and Gundog goes green steadfast support ever since.