Pub chef Miranda shows us her bowling style.
Australia Day was bright and clear, but very hot and humid. The weather station had 39.5 degrees, although it was 43 degrees on the verandah at the pub, with almost the same in humidity. Everyone kept a very low profile, but started coming out of the woodwork for the Pub Cricket Challenge, due to kick off at 4 pm. The game was remarkably enthusiastic despite the heat, and there were drinks breaks every few overs. My partner Katrina and I scored a very respectable 12 runs before we got retired, whereupon I proceeded to replace the gallons of sweat coming out of me with a cold Goldie in the air-conditioning of the pub. Evan very sneakily hit his first ball straight over the airport fence, incurring six runs and out — thereby avoiding running up and down in the heat. He then went off to organise a golf chipping contest on the oval — our neighbour Lynton hit the ball closest to the flag and came away $100 richer.
The Social Club (Evan and Kay, helped out by me, Kay's partner Russ and fill-in policeman Dave) held a popular barbecue on the verandah in the evening, followed by the Awards presentation in the pub. The official Australia Day Awards were to be held in Bedourie this year, but since its cut off by the floods, they have been postponed until March, so the pub staff organised the unofficial awards instead — we now have six OBMs in Birdsville.
A couple of guys turned up in the pub in the evening, they'd come across on the closed Windorah road, in the dark, hit a washout and totalled their car. They'd walked about 15 kms towards town when one of the station vehicles picked them up and brought them in. They were very lucky to be picked up — it would have been a long walk, and there's next to no traffic at the moment. They looked to be unhurt, although the Flying Doctor came in the next day.
Fiona steps up to whack the ball. Coen (green top, left), gets ready to run.
Ref and scorer Jess keeps a close eye on the action.
Evan and Kay (aka the Birdsville Social Club) clean up after the barbie.
The OBMs pose with their certificates.
This is why you don't drive on flood-closed roads at night ....
Hope you still have your head above water, Michelle....Google led me to your blog via general search for 'Birsdsville 2009 floods" which was prompted by reading today's flood warnings etc...you know how this works...LOL! have loved going back & reading about life there. Not long finished reading 'The Birdsville Mailman"....is that it's name????
ReplyDeleteJude
Hi Jude,
ReplyDeleteClose — its called "Mailman of the Birdsville Track". The video "Back of Beyond" is also worth a look if you're interested in such stuff. I've never seen so much water in my life outside of the ocean! The floods are on the way down now, finally, the road out to Windorah and the Track are open again, I plan to do a post very soon, so keep an eye out. Is that the Jude who worked in the pub for a while?
Hi Michelle :)
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering if I could use some of your blogs for a school assignment? They are great, they give a real inside to the people of Birdsville.
If you don't want me to thats totally okay, but you just give so much detail, and it really does give so much more information than a website or textbook!!
Thankss heaps,
Emily :)