Douglas Adams, author of ‘The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Universe’, believed that all Australians, or for that matter, visitors to Australia, should carry with them, a stick.  The stick was meant to inflict injury or even death to the many dangers that were inherent on the continent of this Great Southland.  He also advised that one should never ever place one’s hand or arm down or into any hole. The dangers lurking there in nearly every hole were likely to be spiders of which species – the red back and funnel web spider are very common and to be avoided at all costs.  Snakes are many in Australia, a continent which has nine out of the ten most deadly snakes in the world.  So, be advised.  No hands down holes, always carry a stick!  I have a stick!

Australia’s first Nations People – the Aborigines, have many sticks. Firstly, the Spear, with a barb on one end,  six to eight feet long and used to hunt animals and fish for eating.  With the aid of another stick  – the Woomera, the spear could be dispatched with leverage, a great distance with high velocity and great accuracy.  The Nulla Nulla was a weapon of war!  A long stick with a gnarled, nobby end, it was used at times of disputation to beat the adversary into submission.

 For entertainment the Aborigine has two basic instruments.  The ‘Clap Sticks’.  Two sticks about 250mm long, they are used to create a steady beat to accompany the singing and dancing of the tribe.  The iconic Didijeridoo is a magnificent stick.  Of varying length and diameter, this stick is crafted from a hard wood which has had its innards feasted on by white ants.  So it is, in effect, a long hollowed out stick.  The player extracts a low throbbing beat with variations only limited by their imagination, skill, experience and understanding of the culture of their people.

The simple digging stick, as its name implies, is used for gathering various delicacies hidden below ground such as yams and other delicacies. The digging stick is also useful for extracting witchity grubs hiding behind the bark of the eucalypt tree.

So how did I form such a bond with my Bendy, Brownie Sticky thing?

Well, I inherited my stick from my Father after he died thirty two years ago.  I do remember him using it.  Especially when he made his holiday trip of a lifetime.  Dad had worked in a factory as a process worker for thirty eight years.  Many of his co-workers were women, mostly from Greece.  Dad had a dream of visiting Greece when he retired but dismissed these dreams after episodes of ill health and three minor strokes.  A slow recovery saw him able to move around a little better and family encouraged him to make the trip.  I’m sure his stick helped him so much on his journey.  He returned home a very contented man with stories to tell which made him so happy on re-telling that sometimes he had to stop the telling while he laughed so much at his adventures.

But what of this particular stick?  While visiting Darwin this year, I felt that I really needed some steadying device as I too now, am getting older and I am considered to be a ‘falls risk’.  My bendy, browny sticky thing has given me that re-assurance to  get out and enjoy the many delights of Darwin with more confidence.  Not only that, it has invited people to comment, it is a little different to the usual walking stick.  My bendy stick has become an opportunity to engage in conversation with so many people on my wanderings around Darwin and suburbs.  People of all ages, and backgrounds.  At the Mindil beach Markets an aborigine was sitting, playing his ‘clap sticks’.  He was heartily amused and laughed out loud when I invited him to clap a few beats on my walking stick.  First time ever I have seen an Aborigine laugh at all let alone with such vigour.  First time ever that I have been able to engage with an aborigine.  First time ever that I have been able to ‘eyeball’ an aborigine.  Not that I saw much.  An aborigine’s eyes are such a deep colour it is hard to imagine what those eyes may reveal to us.

 Someone suggested the fork at the top of my stick could steady my rifle as I took a pot shot at a rabbit.  I thought that was quite imaginative.  I will never know  – I don’t have a rifle and never intend getting one.  I do find it to be a useful device at times to hang my coles shopping bag from while I rummage round my ‘man bag’ for stuff I need.  A man bag!  Whoever would have thought that one day I would ever need or even use, a ‘man bag’!  Perhaps I could use my stick to pin down a fat, red bellied black snake!  Some one suggested I could use it as a frame for a sling shot – the suggestions just kept coming.  Use it as a water diviner another helpful person suggested.

Checking in at the Darwin Airport for our return home, I was amused to be asked to stand aside while my stick was checked for explosives!

Darwin is a culturally diverse City, many, many nations are settled here.  All seem to be interested in my stick.  The stick is obviously hand made.  How long ago?  Another mystery.  I can easily imagine it being ‘plucked’ from a tree somewhere in England perhaps?  And fashioned into this rough and useful appliance that  is still used today.  Did it belong previously to a farmer?  Or farm worker perhaps who felt better opportunities awaited him in this Great Southland.  Did it venture across the sea in a sailing ship?  What tales it might have locked away in its thin, delicate, but sturdy frame.

I sometimes think of the adventures I might have had if I had ventured along with my Dad and his stick through Europe and England.

I’ll just have to speculate on that because I’ll never, never know.

 

Bruno had been looked after by his wife for 57 years, when he got home each day she would have his small whisky and coke and a couple of dry biscuits ready whilst  she put the finishing touches to their evening meal. Bruno would tell his mates how he never had to prepare a meal through out his married life, indeed prior to that his mother did exactly the same for him right up till he married Beryl.

Bruno was devastated when Beryl became to ill to look after him in fact he lost a lot of weight over the pursuing months, weet bix and milk diet will do that even to muscle men.

Neighbours helped out for short time with cooked meals and visiting but as time rolled by this diminished and he had to try and fend for himself.

He closed up most of the house only occupying a bed room the kitchen meals area and bathroom, he did not feel so lonely in a smaller area. He stopped gardening so much now, no need for so-many vegetables.

Be careful as you age and are on your own.

As older people do they become addicted to completing JIG SAW puzzles, the bigger the better and Bruno had found a monster he laid it out on the kitchen table ready to make a start a couple of hours before TEA he had bought Rhubarb and some pears his mothers favourite meal, after preparing the meal he placed it all into a pot and set the electric stove on medium heat, he then sat down to the jig saw challenge, some hours passed bye and as older people do he fell asleep waking up at 3 o’ clock coughing and spluttering, jumping up quickly spilling the nearly completed puzzle across the floor, it was dark and the smoke detector was still screaming, Bruno gasping made it outside to some welcome fresh air, he then made a quick dash over to the stove the saucepan was glowing red hot he ran outside knowing not what to do with the pot full of red hot charcoal with smoke heading sky ward he then ran across the lawn to the street and luckily it was bin night so he tossed the glowing smocking pot into the nearest bin back to the kitchen turned on the fan to clear the smoke, by 5am he was able to settle down for a well earned rest.

The Garbo next morning refused to empty the bin as it was now a melted plastic mess

The neighbour was yelling out if I catch the so and so kids that have ruined my bin I will ring their scrawny necks.

Author, Daryl Morrow

October 2022

darylmorrow@hotmail.com

On 27th June 2018 the Diamond Creek OM:NI Group and Eltham Men’s Shed lost a valued friend. Sadly, Nick Grange passed away after a battle with cancer. Nick was a long standing member of both groups. He was instrumental in starting the Mens Shed bike repair group which continues to this day, and was a keen member of the OM:NI cycling group, encouraging us to ride further and more widely afar.

We all had fun riding alongside Nick on the trails, chatting about cooking and life in general, and enjoyed comparing coffee notes during the mid ride break. Nick also started this web site, which became one of his passions as he converted it from a simple blog to a formal web site. All who knew Nick were influenced by his dreams – the blog, the bike repair group and the peleton.

He is still sadly missed, but his memory lives on in our minds and in the annual Nick Grange Memorial Ride. Each year close to his anniversary, the group goes on a ride which duplicates the last ride Nick rode with the group.

This year the ride was held on 14^th July

Ron, Bill, Steve and Bruce started the ride from the usual meeting place at the Eltham Tennis courts.

The first stop was on the way to Diamond Creek, in a gentle bend in the creek where Nick’s ashes were scattered. This was a time for a gentle reflection on Nick and life in general and the realisation that it can be shortened at any time. The learning here was to make the most of each day and enjoy it.

The ride then continued on to Hurstbridge via the new section of the Diamond Creek Trail to  Hurstbridge and back to the cafe at Pepper’s Paddock where Lou joined the group for coffee and friendly chatting.

Then the peleton returned home to Eltham Tennis Courts, stopping to walk the labyrinth near the Diamond Creek Play Ground. Nick, together with Ken Ramplin was largely instrumental in persuading Nillumbik Council to construct this project, and after a number of years and much consultation the labyrinth was completed. By a coincidence the labyrinth is just across the Diamond Creek from where Nick’s ashes were scattered, a lovely example of good karma.

CHEERS TO OUR MATE NICK

We have only been here three days and I am sticking to my premise that this is the hottest June we have ever experienced here!

Just the other day, it rained during the afternoon! Never had that before – in 29 visits here to visit our children – no rain in June.

Have to get out of the house for a while or I’ll go up the wall.  Announcing this, all sorts of reasons for not going out anywhere  were offered by my wife Lorraine and Daughter Lianne.  I’ll drive you says Lianne.  I’ll walk on the shady side of the street, says I.

I’ll have my walking stick and my hat.  My walking stick Belonged to Dad who died thirty years ago. A bendy, sticky sort of affair which I’m sure he didn’t buy.  Never bought much at all really.  Always making do.  Picking up stuff off the street, scrounging at the tip, adopting other people’s cast offs.  Where did that walking stick come from?  There must surely be a story there somewhere?

The sticks origin  is just something else I should have asked Dad before he passed away all those years ago. I really do need to move on.

Anyway, against the families wishes, I set off for Nightcliff Shopping centre – on the shady side. It didn’t take all that long – but, boy, was I hot! Maybe I should have accepted that lift in the air conditioned car.  Heading straight for the café to order an iced coffee, I noticed three or four elderly men sitting enjoying their coffee and chatting.  With my coffee in hand and aided by my walking stick, I chose a table nearby.

My curiosity aroused, I watched and listened as  (OK – eavesdropping) one by one, they were joined by other men until there were twelve gathered.

The last to arrive made up for lost time by completely taking over the conversation and extracting many laughs. The whole tenor of the meeting had  changed by this this fellows arrival. Almost another Sir Kelvin of Diamond Creek!

Another opportunity to experience a model OM:NI Group so I asked if I could join them and was accepted immediately. Makes you feel special.

Well, it turns out, every man in this group were retired from the Public Service in Darwin. Different departments but all with links to one another.

 One man – of Chinese descent, sixteen years ago,contacted a few who passed the message around and  now there are eighteen men  enjoying each other’s company together, reflecting on their past, keeping out from under their wives feet and supporting each other.

 An OM:NI Group by any other name.

It was early morning by the creek with the Bellbirds in full voice and the mist rising from the water when I glimpsed the overgrown dwelling hesitating I ventured further not knowing if it was still someone’s home or what maybe inside, the iron roof was very rusty and covered in fallen leaves, but the wooden door was ajar and no smoke was evident from the tin chimney it certainly looked abandoned so i crept into the darkened room when my eyes got accustomed to the available light I could see an old table with four chairs with a setting for one, an old tin plate, one bone handled knife and fork two Vegemite jars with nail holes in the lids for pepper and salt the single panel window had a fragile curtain barley hanging over a smoked glass panel, obviously cooking was done on the open fire in the tin chimney which still contained burnt wood ashes, now I could see much better, the walls were lined with old newspapers which told the date and news with pictures when the paper was added to the walls to keep out the cold winds.

The frame work was of timber saplings held together with wire and the ceiling was now of falling hessian.

The bed was also made from timber poles with old potato sacks forming the mattress and a Kapok filled bags to make it more comfortable .

The mantle piece over the fireplace still had the frozen wind up alarm clock stuck on 12, was this the end of life here or was it indicating the start of a new life.

I just had to investigate outside past the old galvanised tank leaning over to one side because the rust had weakened and it held water no more, the old chipped enamel washing dish was still wedged in the fork of a nearby tree.

I felt great concern as to what this family must have endured trying to survive during the great depression .

Inside again I saw three tin plates neatly arranged on one end of the mantle piece  and on the wall was printed Ruth, Billy, and Claire nothing else.

I decided it was time to leave when upon leaving I saw a hardly used path leading further down an old garden path, pushing aside the shrubs  I was able to see two rock piles with wooden crosses that had fallen over now with Ruth and Billy carved  into them I guessed with a Penknife.

I have been left wondering now for years what happened to Claire and her father with no name.

I also left the wind up clock on that mantle piece stuck on 12.

On 27th June 2018 the Diamond Creek OM:NI Group and Eltham Mens Shed lost a valued friend. Sadly, Nick Grange passed away after a battle with cancer. Nick was a long standing member of both groups, with OM:NI being a keen member of the cycling group, encouraging us to ride further and more widely astray, and with the Men’s Shed he started the bike repair group.

We all had fun riding alongside NIck on the trails, chatting about cooking and life in general, and enjoyed comparing coffee notes during the mid ride break. Nick also started this web site, which became one of his passions as he converted it from a simple blog to a formal web site. All who knew Nick were influenced by his dreams – the blog, the bike repair group and the peleton.

He is still sadly missed, but his memory lives on in our minds and in the annual Nick Grange Memorial Ride. Each year close to his anniversary, the group goes on a ride which duplicates the last ride Nick rode with the group.

This year the ride was held on July First.

Ron, Joe, Bill, Lindsay and Bruce started the ride from the usual meeting place at the Eltham Tennis courts.

Finally the group rode home to Eltham, gently reflecting on our friendship with our mate Nick, who still rides with us in our hearts.

In 1966, while working as an exploration geologist for Western Mining Corporation, I was sent to the remote Kyzylkum Desert in Western Uzbekistan to report on various gold projects. This area is near to the Aral Sea, which has essentially dried from a large fresh-water lake with a thriving fishing industry into a dried dust bowl with a saline playa in the lowest portion.

The trip was organized by the Geological Survey of Uzbekistan and we flew out to Nukus where the vehicles were waiting for us. We travelled to the Karakalpakistan Gulag at Sultan Uizdag, which was a women’s prison from the former Soviet era.

This was to be our base while we explored the gold workings in the area. We slept in cells on old prison bunks using our super-down sleeping bags. The gulag was being used as a storage compound for drilling equipment.
One morning I got up early at about 5 a.m. to photograph an old fortress about one kilometre from the gulag. It was named Fortress Gyraur Kola and was built in the 4th century AD from mudbricks. Due to severe damage over the years from Mongul attacks, it was rebuilt in the 14th century AD into an interesting structure. However, with the salination of the river basin by excessive upstream irrigation, the water table of highly saline water has risen and is gradually destroying it. What a pity!

While there taking photographs, I noticed a vehicle approach the gulag entrance and four guys jumped out armed with Kalashnikov rifles. Two of them stayed to guard the gate while two entered the gulag. I also noticed that one of the two Russian-speaking geologists had gone out to the pit-drop toilet well outside the gate just before they arrived. I sneaked around to the toilet to talk about how we should proceed. In the end we decided to bluff it out and approached the gate openly and cautiously. We were pointed into the prison at gun-point by the guards.
On entry we quickly discovered that they were Islamic extremists who had come to capture us for ransom. Luckily, the Tartar Russian-speaking geologist, who had been employed back in Melbourne, knew the leader of the group (they went to university together and had been friends). This leader decided to let us off this time.
In order to celebrate this very fortuitous meeting, we purchased a sheep from the locals. I watched as it was killed by pointing its body towards Mecca and then cutting its throat with an evil-looking Islamic knife. It was quickly dressed and the cook turned it into a sumptuous meal. The excess sheep meat went back with the extremists as a token reward to their colleagues back at their camp.

This was just a typical occurrence when I was working around the world in all the places tourists never see. The odds of employing a Russian-speaking geologist in Melbourne, who knew the leader of some Islamic extremists in Western Uzbekistan, is mind-blowingly miniscule! We completed the trip safely.

A Tenth year celebration of Diamond Creek OM:NI was held on 16th March at the recently refurbished Diamond Creek Netball Clubrooms, the venue of the Diamond Creek group since its inception.

About 50 guests attended, including members from the Nillumbik, Banyule and Whittlesea area groups, family members, the Mayer of Nillumbik, staff from Council On The Ageing, sponsors, and representatives from Nillumbik Council. Before the proceedings the audience was entertained by a band ‘Luna the Moon” an enthusiastic trio of young women who won the Young Creative Leaders award recently.

Daryl Morrow, one of the original members of the group facilitated the event, and opened by acknowledging the Wurundjeri People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet, and paid respect to their Elders past and present. He thanked the local traders who have supported the group, including Mason White McDougal Real Estate, Reece Plumbing, Coles, Diamond Valley Hire, Valley Financial and Bendigo Bank. Daryl also thanked the Netball Centre for their assistance in supplying a venue for the group over a number of years.

The celebration then continued by various people telling their stories of their involvement with the group.

Michael Slaughter, Manager of Bendigo Bank congratulated the group on operating for ten years, stated how he has enjoyed the relationship and looked forward to an ongoing support.

Ken Ramplin, the originator of the group, spoke on the importance of OM:NI in engaging older men, particularly after their retirement. He gave a moving tribute to the group members who have passed away – Kelvin Kaires who was the respected elder of the group, Tom Hendry an original group member who was a keen traveler, Les Robertson the group’s bush poet, and NIck Grange, who started the Diamond Creek Group blog which contains the mens’ stories, and who with Ken came up with the idea of the Diamond Creek Regional Playspace Labyrinth and worked with the Nillumbik Council to enable its construction.

Tina Hogarth-Clarke, CEO of Council On The Ageing, presented a ten year certificate to the group. She stated the importance of OM:NI in supporting and bringing men together after their retirement. Even during the recent restrictions OM:NI managed to meet in various ways, principally via Zoom. She congratulated the achievement of the group in continuing for ten years. Karen Ivanka, also from Council On The Ageing, congratulated the group, saying how she has enjoyed supporting the group, and in general interacting with the now 28 Victorian groups.

Peter Perkins, Mayor of Nillumbik spoke on how he was first introduced to the idea of OM:NI groups at the launch ten years ago, and how he met with Ken from time to time on a park bench in the area. He acknowledged the work of Ken within the community and OM:NI, and paid tribute to Ken and NIck Grange’s work in getting the labyrinth going.

Anna Maio a council Officer from Nillumbik Shire Council was also acknowledged by Daryl for her assistance in obtaining grants and other help and encouragement to the group.

Representing Banyule group, Ken Young spoke, stating how he started in OM:NI in 2006, and has had an enjoyable time, meeting good blokes and making new friends.

Graham Gobey from Watsonia group spoke on how he has shared many life experiences over the years, but how sadly a few blokes have passed away, however their families always say good things about OM:NI. He was proud of how Diamond Creek group has lasted ten years.

Lindsay Clarke and Ian Sandham, representing Eltham spoke on how the Eltham Group has been going for nine years, Lindsay saying how OM:NI has given him increased confidence, Ian mentioned their new location at the footy clubrooms, and also thanked Diamond Creek Group for their support.

From the Hurstbridge group, Peter Clarke stated how OM:NI is the best kept secret, and how he is enjoying bringing OM:NI into other parts of the state, particularly in areas where there is a range of ethnic groups.

The final representative to speak on behalf of a group was Ken Ramplin. Ken told how his involvement with OM:NI began after a health issue when he retired. He started attending the Greensborough Goup. After about three years, he was challenged to start up a new Group in Diamond Creek.

After an exhaustive advertising campaign, a meeting was held to launch the new group on 15th March 2011. About fifty three people attended the launch and the new Group had its first meeting at Creek’s Cafe on 29th March. Ken then led a committee starting the Eltham Group, launched a year later with more than ninety people attending.

Two years later, another committee was formed to launch another Group in Hurstbridge, confirming Ken’s conviction that there were many men in the community needing this type of service. Since then, the groups in the Diamond Valley have disproved the notion that men don’t talk, all groups have great discussions on a wide range of topics.

The formal part of the proceedings finished with an old standing member, Jim Duncan, cutting a splendid ten year anniversary cake, which all present tasted together with an afternoon tea and socialising.

Thanks are also given to Darryl Morrow, for his excellent job of facilitating the celebration.

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Three and a half years ago, OM:NI – Diamond Creek put a proposal to Nillumbik Shire Council that a labyrinth be built at the Diamond Creek Reserve.

To test the concept Council built a temporary hay bale labyrinth next to the netball courts. This was a runaway success with the younger members of the community.

After many conversations and onsite meetings, the labyrinth is now a reality. Council were able to incorporate it as an integral part of the Diamond Creek Regional Playspace.

What is a labyrinth?

A labyrinth is a simple contemplative pathway used for walking meditation. The labyrinth has a history of more than 4,000 years. It has been described as a stress management tool and watering hole for the spirit. Walking the labyrinth is a detour from the everyday path of our lives – an opportunity to slow down and reflect. It’s an easy way to meditate – to simply quiet the mind and open the heart.

How do you walk a labyrinth?

There is really no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. On the inward journey, it is an opportunity for personal reflection. Pausing for a moment in the centre, refocus your mind, think about the difficulties you may have had in the recent past, then retrace your steps, refreshed and anticipating a brighter future.

The local Nillumbik OM:NI groups have greatly appreciated the assistance of Nillumbik Shire Council and their cooperation in bringing this community project to a successful conclusion. For more information about this project click on the following link.

https://participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/labyrinth

Walking past a small spiky bush on the way into the veggie garden I felt a sharp sting, I hadn’t noticed this plant before it appeared overnight, strange feeling was overcoming me the plant in my eyes suddenly became very large, like a mature Gum Tree . I was becoming scared every thing was large, overpowering like being in the amazon rain forest, it was then it became apparent that I had shrunk down as small as and even smaller than the inhabitants of most home gardens. As I ventured timidly further amongst the vegetables I was confronted by a monster grub on a cabbage leaf.

I quickly scurried under the leaf out of sight. Shaking I ventured further into the garden when I heard a very loud croaking noise by a large expanse of water and standing higher than me I saw a monster frog dancing and croaking, enjoying the sunshine.

Dashing further into the foliage I was confronted by an armoured beetle on the war path. He headed straight for me, smashing through the forest with little effort, I thought this was my end – things flashed before my eyes.

Then I heard a thunderous crashing of some dry limbs. Glancing behind I saw a coloured dragon lunge forward and save me by eating the attacking king beetle. A giant Slater was dashing by in a great hurry pretty much camouflaged watched by a very patient Spider. But alas he will go hungry I assume as the Slater slid under cover. Some onlookers watched silently from their escape routes expecting to witness the demise of some other competition in the plant eating chain.

I couldn’t believe the horrors that exist in the garden where survival of the fittest and most aggressive still rule today
Even the field rats have learnt to fly as they offered me a free ride out of danger, but I declined as l am scared of heights and flying owls. As the rat took to the sky he frightened the grasshopper who had eaten too much and found getting out of the way and airborne much to his dislike and he said it is all your fault planting those climbing beans which have blocked our flight path, to home.

The flowering Wattles were trying to avoid the yellow Grubs from destroying their yellow blossom before fertilisation, they had grown spiky thorns but some how the grubs had developed a way of avoiding those spikes.

Some unnamed residents tried to hide fearing my intrusion into their world.
This one was trying to wrap its legs around me then devour my body for its next meal and protect its babies.

But I was rescued by this Soldier Ant just in time, he suggested I get back into my own world and to inform our species to be more considerate when working in the their world.
The Blue Tongue also issued a stern warning as it protected its strawberry patch.
He was backed up by by some other quiet inhabitants.

Suddenly I started to resume my full size again, but was left with a new awareness and respect of the homes and food of the world beneath our feet.