The Gundaroo Gazette Community | Cohesion | Harmony www.gundaroo.org Volume 205 Print circulation 600 — Readership keeps growing December 2020 It’s a bit different. But it’s still Christmas. It’s been an extraordinary year – like Then, when ‘the virus’ came to no other for many of us. But few of us Australia, Gundaroo stayed want to be reminded of things that free of it, and remains so. We went wrong, or we feared could go proved our immense capacity Santa can’t wrong, and who or what we lost or to care for our neighbours and ride ‘on’ the missed – or missed out on. those less able in the fire truck community. anymore. Since Christmas can be a time for ‘Someone’ reflection, perhaps we can count our Our ‘retail’ and ‘personal said he’s blessings. Here are some to reflect on. service’ businesses found novel not safe The catastrophic bushfires last summer ways to carry on and offer there. spared Gundaroo and environs – service – and we gave them (No words!) although our local crews were endlessly lots of support in their quest. ↓ ‘on duty’ helping others near and far Anticipating long isolation, we who were suffering and struggling. discovered hobbies and talents, and After years of drought, dry dams, bare learnt new skills – especially with paddocks, empty hay sheds, tender food, with fixing and building things, wool and declining flocks and herds, the and how to Zoom! heavens opened. Not only did the Despite the lack of physical contact February falls help put out the fires, with our friends, we adapted to the they gave us vigorous plant growth, rules for distancing and hygiene, and lush green landscapes, full dams, and found ways to be close without being the joy of working with softer soil. ‘close’. We celebrated the Gundaroo Music In this issue … Wedge – in place of the cancelled Local News pp 1–3 Gundaroo Music Festival – and Tallagandra Hill’s 15 COVID-safe music Christmas Church services p 3 concerts since mid-year. From ‘The Desk’ p 4 As a community, we found new ways to Community Noticeboard pp 4–5 live good lives and to cope with various Christmas/New Year/January trading p 5 privations without complaint. Fire Brigade bulletin p 6 And now, as Christmas approaches, Scouts p 7 we’re facing some unfamiliar situations, School News p 8 illustrated with some past photos of Wishing you a Merry Christmas p 9 Gundaroo’s usual public celebrations. Christmas cheer pp 10–11 Church worship is highly restricted or Offsetting this Christmas deprivation are Food! [at The Gundaroo Store] p 13 even suspended. And this year we shall abnormally high sales of Christmas trees. miss packing out the Community Our very own Ziggy Kominek (above) says he Home on the range p 15 Church for a night of Christmas carols. The best season EVER p 17 might sell out for the first time in 20 years! As well, the ‘journey to Bethlehem’ And now Gundaroo Community Singers look Snakes out and about p 19 across the grounds of the Community Gundaroo Sport – Cricket p 21 like they’re going to treat us to Christmas Church will not happen this Christmas – carols at the pub – on Friday 18th. Eateries p 23 sadly for many visitors who come to Church services p 23 witness the days of the journey to the Angels must be real! Merry Christmas! Emergency & community contacts p 24 final nativity scene. Quotes for the month “To recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less.” Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish author, playwright, poet, wit and activist “Do not accuse anyone for no reason, when they have done you no harm.” Proverbs 3:30 (New International Version) The Gundaroo Gazette 1 December 2020 LOCAL NEWS out a comprehensive heritage Stellar live entertainment Gundaroo becomes a ‘film assessment of St Mark’s Church. The in November set’ again original Court House was built in 1875, functioned thus until 1934, and was October brought us weeks of live music On a sunny Tuesday in November, the consecrated as a Church in 1941. at the pub, celebrating and finally Gundog Estate Cork St. Cellar terrace choosing a Gundaroo Emerging Muso and the Grazing Restaurant gardens MFA is coordinating the project to (GEM) on Saturday 24th. became a film location for the television confirm the building’s heritage status, to assess its condition, and prepare a In November, two venues were show ‘Farmer wants a wife’. fortunate to host some more stellar Gundaroo residents will remember the conservation strategy and priorities to restore and maintain its best condition. entertainers. theatre provided by the ‘House Rules’ The assessment includes a detailed site Tallagandra Hill Winery hosted that invasion of the Harp/Morning corner and unique Australian icon, H.G.Nelson St Joseph’s church hall early in 2019. survey, and geotechnical and structural investigations. (a.k.a. Greig Pickhaver), who gave a The nature of that very different ‘reality’ sold-out and very engaged audience a program involved a physical week-long So impressed were the consultants humorous retrospective on the presence with containers, skip-bins, (pictured, with St Marks’ representatives) memorable commentary ‘Roy and HG’ caravans, a generator, ‘studio lights’, a during their site-visit that the scope of gave throughout the 2000 Sydney catering tent, a drone, and multiple the project is being extended to include Olympics. cars, utes, and delivery and removal the whole precinct – courthouse, police trucks coming and going every day (and station, lock-up, and stables, and perhaps He’s pictured here at Tallagandra Hill even the remnants of the old butchery on with Fatso, the Fat-arsed Wombat, the some nights) for a week. And the high- scene-stealing unofficial mascot of the energy production crew members and the corner. Sydney Olympics. ‘talent couples’ were – within their ‘confidentiality agreements’ – endlessly courteous and friendly with inquisitive neighbours and passers-by. ‘Farmer wants a wife’ was quite different – on-site for only one day, and located more remotely in the village than one of the major walking and running routes for families and pets. So their presence attracted little attention. And in keeping with the nature of the show, the ‘action’ was less frenetic. Onlookers weren’t encouraged – not ‘up The community ‘stakeholders’ involved in close’ anyway. The Gundaroo Gazette gave its word not to publish any the discussions so far have included the Anglican Minister and church elders, revealing photos, but is able to report representatives of the Gundaroo and His hosts, David and Mary, took HG and that the scene was nonetheless similar his family to the pub for dinner the to most TV film sets on location. District Historical Society, and previous owners and tenants of the adjacent previous night, where he spent some There were many vehicles, having buildings. The Gundaroo Gazette is now time chatting in the bar before ferried the ‘talent’, the production crew helping with background research. repairing to a Tallagandra Hill cottage. and their equipment and supplies. He also enjoyed a tour of the vineyard The MFA program and consultations will On-site was a generator, studio lights, continue into early 2021 – and comments during his visit. cameras and microphones (and their A week later, on Friday and Saturday operators), production manager, and suggestions are welcome at [email protected] . nights, the pub hosted two great live continuity, make-up and stylist crews music events. They were part of the and their gear, a caterer, and more. Mixed but positive news joint initiative of It seems that no matter how brief the Destination NSW and scenes may be, all the people and from Gundaroo Park ARIA (Australian paraphernalia needed to ensure a The Gundaroo Gazette spoke with Recording Industry successful shoot are still, well … needed. Ron Miller, Chair of the Gundaroo Association) – Great Even so-called ‘reality’ TV requires Park Trust Board, for an update on Southern Nights – mixed progress with the several which gave musicians professional production and well-chosen film locations, and it appears that some works projects planned or underway opportunities to at Gundaroo Park. perform after having producers believe Gundaroo can offer lost multiple live gigs locations that meet their needs. Working Bee: Gundaroo Park had a during the COVID-19 very successful working bee over the venue closures. Heritage assessment of St weekend of 5 and 6 December. The Mark’s and the Courthouse working bee followed on from the extra Proceeds from the mowing earlier in the week by the concerts, held in precinct legendary Shane Dawson, who stepped several venues in Late in November, The Gundaroo in after Council’s mowers were southern NSW, went to the performers. Gazette was invited to visit St Mark’s overwhelmed by the amount of grass in Both the pub and Tallagandra Hill Church in Cork Street to meet a team of the shire after the rain. Winery are planning some more great a heritage architect and other Our great team of 14 people entertainment over summer. Regular community members inspecting and representing the Park Board, all user Gazette readers should keep checking discussing a heritage protection project. groups, and local residents (including a the Facebook pages of the venues Michael Fox Architects (MFA) has been brand new one) spent a lot of time and during December and January. engaged by the Anglican Diocese to carry work brush-cutting, gutter-cleaning and The Gundaroo Gazette 2 December 2020 LOCAL NEWS repair (not quite successful yet), some from Liz Harris for the bags of tree pruning and taking the old paint of river stone helped meet the the oval fence with a monster pressure repair costs.