It was an evening of great conversation covering the last 60 years and into the future. Andy Aitken, Roddy Crouch, Dave and Tamar Freed, Chris and Mandi Mather, Mick and Sammy Reid.

The food, wine, and service were excellent - from one who prefers empty plates lingering on the table to premature removal whilst some are still eating. 

Thanks to the team at The Lord Dudley, and thanks to my friends for our continued friendship, some of which just reached 60 years, and all of whom remain amongst the nicest people I've ever met. Sammy and I delighted in seeing you all again.

Unbelievably, we enjoyed a cracking evening for eight at the Keg and Brew in Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, and were so absorbed in our discussions that we failed to take a single photo to record the occasion - well not entirely, I took a few photos of the pub..!!!

The roll call was Andy Aitken, Roddy Crouch, Rob Green, Phil Hosking, Paul Kotala, Pete McEvoy, Mick Reid, and Dave Werner. 

It was great to see you all again, guys. Until next time...
 

It was a small coincidental school reunion as we gathered for dinner to honour Mieke Davis' graduation with a double degree from the University of Newcastle. It was wonderful to see the sights of Terrigal again. Thanks for the invitation, Mieke, Peewee and Kathy, it was an honour to be part of your celebrations.

What a cracking lunch at Potts Point Hotel. Great to be back in Sydney, and to catch up with Gibbo, Millsy, Dwane and Dave, with a cameo phone call from Simmo.

With thanks to Feyny and Sydney Brewery for their hospitality.

Gibbo and Reidy

It's always a delight to break bread with our most wonderful teacher Peter Harwin, who took us for our final two years at Edgecliff in 1969 and 1970. Peter subsequently became Headmastee at Edgecliff until his retirement. 

Terrific catch up.

North Sydney, photos courtesy of the late great Jeremy Jones.

A small Covid-affected reunion at one of our old hunts in Double Bay. Dave, Gary, Robby, Mark, and Mick - sounds like a 70's pop band.

With thanks to our hosts and the organisers.

Feyny, Monty, Reidy

Don't know where, don't know when....

A great turnout by an awesome bunch of guys.

Under the illuminating guidance of the nearly retired Dr John, a number of old boys were granted a tour of College Street, including the extraordinary auditorium.

Munro, Stu, Lux, Chris, Monty, and Mick. A highlight was Stu's drive-by brown-eye to the patrons of The Seabreeze Hotel....

A great bunch of people bidding farewell.

A combined event including Hay High.

The 24th of May

Is it Thursday?

1710

Happy Birthday Mum

A Reflection 

Eighth on Eighth

The Crackenback Winds

To Mum

Ode to Pete

Come, bid me farewell as I head out to sea
I’m off to another reunion
The horizon beyond is calling to me
The ocean my perfect illusion.

Push me away from the shore one last time
Cheer and laugh with me as I set course
I’m feeling the breeze and I’m trimming the sails
The forecast is clear and the weather sublime
I’m living the dream with no sense of remorse
Just a library of jokes and great tales.

Don’t pity me for the winds I was tossed
Don’t grieve for the pain of my leaving
While I agree the lost battle was tragic
There’s always a lesson to come from a cost
Your life is a tapestry ripe for weaving
And my life is part of your fabric.

So bid me farewell as I head out to sea
My bow points to an unchartered realm
The horizon beyond is calling to me
And I’m back in command of the helm.

Michael Reid, April 2014

©️  Michael Reid 2014, all rights reserved

The Greatest of Guys

Leave Nothing on the Table

In Our Time

Old people asleep under yesterday's news
A freezing denial of Capital views
Wrapped from the winter in hopeless desertion
While oil heaters soothe our leader inertia
The Ministers gag until Parliament stands
No solvent like recess for washing the hands.

Carousel fever, polepidemic
Power the plague, and glory symptonic
Good men and true have succumbed to the curse
Humanity's syphillis dressed as nurse
More power prescribed as cure for the ill 
Sinecure sanctity, smoothest of pills.

Ignorant rhetoric will always appease
A ravenous thirst for mass marketing sleaze
Confidence, colour and loads of compassion
Offering silk from pork auricle rations 
Bidding for destiny's role of Messiah 
A flourishing specie, Earnest Pariah.

Barely beneath this posturing swagger
Is hidden a sheathed amorphous dagger
Policies hacked from pre-polling-booth crass
Poverty, pestilence, pain for the mass 
Tear-streaked appeals or national fervour 
Fail to dissuade the starving from murder.

Enter the honest man seeking endorsement
Shouting the truth from podium and pavement
But truth lacks conviction and wreaks of decline
So parasites push for the cosy sublime
Exit the honest man broken and bloody
Onward the bureaucrat smiling and ruddy.

Michael Reid
July 1992

© Michael Geoffrey Reid 1992, all rights reserved

Inner Sanctum
 

As Autumn recalls the Capital's beauty

(Wasted foliage dying in style)

Government Ministers head to their duty

To gather a case of denial

The Cabinet meets in the plush furnished room

Having pranced for reporters outside

They're all looking splendid in mid-career bloom

Where their egos and ethics collide

"Agenda" begins the paper before them

Yet below it the page is quite bare

Members methodically ponder this portent

With well practised omniscient stares

The P.M. appears looking cool and robust

His suit of the best foreign label

Then speaks in a manner designed to disgust

The roughest of men at the table

"Some backbencher mentioned the dole queues to me

And the Balance of Payments, and stress

Well let me explain so we all can agree

The real issue which we must address

"There's only one cause in Australia today

That is truly worth fighting about

And that's whether we'll still be drawing our pay

When the '93 voters are out

"Real issues and cold facts are not to be seen

From this moment and until the poll

The object of course is a giant smokescreen

To make Hewson and Fightback! look droll

"This week we shall force a debate on the flag

And next week we'll sing a new anthem

And if any democrat vetos a gag

We'll hold his fat pension for ransom

"We're the battler's friend and the nation's elite

And we care for our comrades, amen

But how can we help if we're out on the street

Where we'd be useless scum-bags like them

"We must keep our efforts directed and clear

Away from these pointless distractions

And if any Member should cry like a steer

I'll castrate his whole bloody faction

"Well Gentlemen let us return to our task

To carry us through the election

And if we survive you might venture to ask

Was Keating the new resurrection.

Michael Reid

May 1992

© Michael Geoffrey Reid 1992, all rights reserved

With God on Earth

With Lennon in Heaven

Next Time Round

My Lady

Of Reality

Of Logic

This Leaf of Dust

Tomorrowʼs Child

Salted Lips of Time (Song)

Reaching from a wind-swept dream, oh yeah
A silent pleasure-ground
Of smiling sun
And dancing seas, eternity above,
A fire within,
A fire within.

Sailing, gliding, sifting promises
Of love-dried sand through answered cries;
A seagull diving, I above, unclothed
And free, licking salted lips of time -
And life, a fresh-blown memory
On morning’s eyes.

Oh the wind-swept dream
Oh the smiling sun
Moruya memories
When the world was one

Oh the wind-swept dream
And the smiling sun
Fading memories
One by one

Alive, enchanted, feeling with the sky
And for a world apart, a past denied
A dream embraced, my wind-swept dream,
My sailing, silent carousel of love,
This freshness draining tears to sighs,
And pleasure to our Mother’s mastery.

Oh the wind-swept dream
Oh the smiling sun
Moruya memories
When the world was one

Oh the wind-swept dream
And the smiling sun
Fading memories
One by one

Fading memories
One by one
Fading memories
One by one

Moruya Heads, November 1978 (as amended)

© Michael G Reid 1978-2019, all rights reserved

Salted Lips of Time

Separation

Alive Again

The Aegean Soldier

A hilltop of green saw the soldier,
In pain as he cried to the mist;
For the soldier saw only his father,
In death to a black morningʼs fist.

Persephone watched from a rise
And sighed for the pain at her ʻneath,
And the father in white watched beside,
As the young soldier courted the wreath.

ʻI have but the one life to giveʼ he cried,
And felt his judgement true,
And then he wept for truth to wilt
And faith to drown in dew.

ʻAs againʼ cried the thoughtless Aegean,
ʻI have lost only morningʼs attire;
But the prayer for a tear of remembrance
Is the wood for the next mourningʼs fire.ʼ

Sweet Demeterʼs child spake at last
With a strength for the dying to learn,
That the voice of the winter be broken
As the harvests of honour return:

ʻFor the dew shall once more breed afresh
And shall plunder fateʼs deepest domain,
And while man follows peace through the darkness
He may never wear deathʼs coat in vain.ʼ

ʻAnd so hold the courage of lightʼ cried his father
ʻAnd would to the tunnel unseen -
And feel in the nightʼs dew a warning
And see, in the morning, the green.ʼ

Not brooding in the clammy light
The Aegean took death by the sword,
And headed in time for the darkness,
And soldiered the light by his word.

And In The Morn

A World of Gold

Sweet Princess

To My Only Tomorrow

Corridors Lost

We left the cries to find the heart,
And headed north to pillars new:
Then found the place we hoped would be,
But never thought, could never see.

We rang the bell and crawled inside
To lovers high on nightly gin,
Of skies and breathing honey beds
In snow of old, yet newly fed.

The turkish camel coat addressed
As if to speak, or clear its throat,
And love returned in dripping burns
As stifled memories to learn.

Night shining over wandʼring eyes
As clever owls fought natureʼs minds -
Yet silent, fearing grassy tombs
Of clouds coersed by butter-wombs.

Together praying into webs
Of mothball eggs on pillow heads,
We cried aloud to desert ears
In barking cracked and willow tears:

Please let us leap into that mound,
And be devoured by deathʼs delights,
By Natureʼs past, where love the song
As manʼs dry fear, in graves belong.

The beacon, as a lover, turned to dust,
Yet spoke in language without sound
To say, you may return to love or lust,
But never to your wishes - all was still.

Michael Reid
February 1977 (as amended)

© Michael G Reid 1977-2011, all rights reserved

A Dream

I see the light, I feel the fire,
Piously burning as the souls of tired
Adventurers search for the valleyʼs heaven -
Mystical, avenging, uneventful mode,
Still fearing callousness of heart yet
Hoping then, as now, but even fonder
For the tireless stream of memories to come.

I cry for time, I know the signs,
Hindering all mortal, meaningless thought,
All frigid dying sanctities of mind;
For those who overthrow shall be divine,
But not as this, for now they are dry
As dusty bread, and shall remain only
To feed the soberly judged, the captive soul.

I wish to rise, in death of mind,
To be the hinge on the prophetʼs door,
And as such to ponder on the wise
And smile, as a child, at the blind.
Clarity in death of fostered fears,
Flowing like a hundred intermingled loves,
As one, free for life, in beautyʼs web.

Michael Reid
Woollahra, NSW Australia
October 1976 (as amended)

© Michael G Reid 1976-2011, all rights reserved.

Awakening

With The Tide

Being in my 60's and acknowledging I'm well into my second half, I now want to invest my time exclusively in good people whose company I enjoy. With this in mind I drew up my ideal future a few years ago, and realised it would be ideal if the plan included a virtual location where we could all get together. I acknowledge that's covered in various sites controlled by entrepreneurs such as Zuckerberg, Musk etc. I resolved I'd prefer to host a site which had all the elements I'm seeking, in one place, and then invite good people to join.

The portion of my new mission statement which applies to this virtual location, in its present form, is this:

"To develop, own and control the perfect platform

to host and entertain a limited number of hand-picked people in various locations around the World, and with them

to discuss, and actively participate in, business, culture, global events and issues, the environment, the creative and performing arts, sport, politics, and community, and

to actively encourage and pursue business, innovation and entrepreneurship amongst these people and with the local communities, but also including

to develop empowerment programmes to assist in eliminating poverty and promoting peace globally, and

to do all this in a collegiate spirit of harmony, joy, mutual support, style and luxury, and most importantly

to spend loads of quality time in these quality environments with friends and family."

Since buying this second hand Toyota Coaster in January 2021, we spent a few months repairing and improving her before embarking on the first of many journeys throughout Australia.

It was great to catch up with Cooky, albeit without my HP12C in support....

We managed to resolve a few of the World's problems over a few excellent shared plates at Q Dining.

This is true destination shopping. Will Dalton is a man worth visiting, not just for his delightful personality and excellent conversation. Boston for Men is a shop in the main strip at Randwick, operated by Will's Boston Clothing Company brand.

We dropped in looking for a jumper, left with two (including one for Sammy, proving some styles suit women equally well), and could have stayed for hours and truly blown the budget. From tees to business attire and everything in between, the place is bursting with quality clothing.

At a time when retail establishments are struggling under the weight of rising rents, interest rates, and online shopping trends, we recommend supporting a quality business such as Boston for Men. Personal service from the owner, a great chat, and if you're a musician, maybe you can join his weekly jam session at the shop..!!!

Will is offering discounts to ClubMaster Members - refer his CMX Listings.

At best a vehicle service is usually a neutral experience, with payment for services enhanced by coffee and a biscuit, and hopefully no unpleasant surprises around repairs and cost. Rarely does an unpleasant surprise result in a truly positive travel experience, yet such was the case with our visit to Co-Op Toyota in North Hobart.

Having decided to have our Coaster 'Valoury' serviced in Hobart, we were hoping for a pain-free routine service. Alas, we were advised late in the afternoon that we had a badly leaking fuel injector, requiring either repair or replacement. Even as a repair this meant we would have to stay an extra night in town, so we opted for the repair option to avoid a three-night delay to our travels.

Enter the true quality of the Co-Op team, including Abbey, Pete, Sonia, and particularly fabulously engaging Nigel, and the ever- helpful and super-patient Ryan. Not only were we invited to spend the night in our bus in the Toyota car park, but we were also plugged into power, then gifted Easter eggs, a beer, and breakfast vouchers to the fabulous Lazy Brunch cafe next door.

We cannot speak more highly of this crew. If you're in Hobart, show them some love and bring your business here. Many many thanks, Co-Op Toyota.

As a secondary salute, we highly recommend Lazy Brunch next door to Co-Op Toyota. 

Unbelievable! Think of all the carbon this tree has soaked up over the centuries. Olive trees are a continual source of carbon sequestering because they are a shrub and not a tree. Meaning they keep growing new trunks in their natural state. In their managed state we prune branches to maximise light and airflow, but they naturally just grow more branches. They never stop sucking in carbon dioxide and putting out clean oxygen. 

Gotta love olive trees 🥰

Some wild winds around today have resulted in some unwanted (but cheap) pruning at our Mt Moriac Olives grove. This is one of about 6 trees along a ridge that copped it the worst.

ClubMaster is delighted to be an Affiliate of CoinSpot. With first hand experience in dealing through the CoinSpot exchange, we can attest to the professionalism of the organisation, and the ease of use of their systems.

Join CoinSpot today, using our Affiliate link: https://www.coinspot.com.au?affiliate=MR6QCX

When registering, quote the ClubMaster code of MR6QCX.

Formerly a cold storage facility for the famous Sam's Seafood, we undertook a conversion to a 1200m2 call centre for APN Newspapers.

Another profitable Intercap project.

Well I always wanted to own a CBD building, and as it turned out......

371 Queen Street Brisbane is a 12 storey building of approximately 3000m2 NLA. 
 

It was a terrific performance by the mercurial Wendy Matthews, belting out her hits to an appreciate Franklin (and visitors) audience. Impressively opened by support act Indira and Friends (well, keyboard friend this night), the main act was 90 minutes of such classics as 'Friday's Child' and 'The Day You Went Away'..

What a great day of relaxed and sunny fun.

A decent crowd pressed in to listen and dance to Dom and the boys from Datura4 rocking the night away at the iconic Rodney's in Mosman Park.

Mona

It has been a bucket list item to view an exhibition of the works of Lloyd Rees (1895-1988), one of our most talented and recognised artists. After wandering the Hobart foreshore we stumbled across this gem of an exhibition, which celebrated Lloyd Rees broadly, but focused on his Tasmanian works from the 1960's until his death in 1988. His latter years were spent as a permanent resident of Tasmania. Such a joy.

Located near the Steppes Cottage, we visited the sculptures en route from Penstock Lagoon to Hobart. Only metres from the highway, they're worth a visit.

For the benefit of any Members who collect indigenous art, I've loaded on the CMX Marketplace a selection of works for sale. At present they're listed with fixed prices, however once CMX has released its Auctions module, I'm proposing to create an auction sometime in 2023 for any unsold works.

These works are all quality works, and the indigenous works were purchased between 2005 and 2012 from the highly respected Fireworks Gallery in Brisbane, Australia.

You will note in the Listings that I will accept select fiat currency and/or Bitcoin in full consideration.

To view the various works simply go to the Painting section within the Art, Artifacts & Collectibles portfolio.

I've never had decent photos taken of any of my attempts at art, and only seem to have a few examples which have been photographed at all. Here's one of them. I don't recall exactly when it was completed, so I've taken a guess.

I've never had decent photos taken of any of my attempts at art, and only seem to have a few examples which have been photographed at all. Here's one of them. I don't recall when it was painted, so I've taken a guess.

I've never had decent photos taken of any of my attempts at art, and only seem to have a few examples which have been photographed at all. Here's one of them. I don't recall when it was painted, so I've taken a guess.

I've never had decent photos taken of any of my attempts at art, and only seem to have a few examples which have been photographed at all. Here's one of them. I don't recall when it was painted, so I've taken a guess.

We started with pumpkin carving, then a little dodgy make-up, and off we went to a great night around the fire pit at the next door neighbours. 

Not just a pumpkin purchasing process, tonight's trip to the local Deluca Farm was also a visit to animals, and a first Halloween measure-up for our six week old granddaughter. 

Each morning the kids bring little Cooper to us so they can grab a couple of hours' sleep. Such a win-win....!!!

After a tough negotiation, the moustache was reduced and the beard trimmed, and we re-discovered our stylish son-in-law. The history of the place, and its extraordinary clientele, added value to the visit.

Our first (and probably last) visit to Denny's.

My first beer selection, the Sierra Nevada pale ale, proved a winner.

Relaxing and quarantining in the desert, watching the presidential election debate.

Enjoying an afternoon ale at The Crab Pot at Burleigh Surf Club, after a short walk on the beach.

We all slept well after this one.

From a tea party to building towers to playing the keyboards to watching Bluey to scooter riding to playground in the park, brownie making with Grammy, more Bluey, then finally a sleep. 

After the zoo, and the ferry ride to Circular Quay, it appeared a choc chip cookie was in order for Moo befor we caught the tram home. Rookie error or dastardly plot, Fobbi..??? It's clear to see how much she loves her Grammy.

A great way to spend a sunny Sydney winter Monday. Moo loved spending time with her cousin Caleb, Aunty Raels and Aunty Cass, and Grammy and Fobbi.

Well it simply wouldn't be right,

'twould be simple effrontery,

if we didn't down a well-chilled pint

at the oldest pub in the country.

What a way to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I love you, Sammy.

With thanks to Great Lake Hotel for your wonderful hospitality, Sammy and I celebrated 17 years since the day we met, as we also approach our 10th wedding anniversary.

Terrific to spend some quality time with Maria, Andrew, Kylie, Jayden and Ryan.

So we return to this fabulous bar to introduce our new friends Kev and Sandy to Michael et al, and who should wander in but Chris and Lou from Brisbane. Extraordinary....

What a terrific day, missing only a few of the immediate family. 
 

There's no shortage of things to do and people to see in Perth.

What a great long, long weekend we had. Six nights at Pdaceful Bay in southern Western Australia.

A fantastic visit with our great friends Deb and Craig, enjoying the scenery and the venues around Torquay, and theirn exceptional work on their home. To our great pleasure, the trip included a visit to Alexander, Elanna and their kids at Geelong.

Having been so close watching our children grow up together in Brisbane, it's been a blast catching up in their latest Victorian environs.

Great hosts, lovely humans - until next time....

Whilst the weather was challenging much of the time, the scenery and the environment always left us feeling very privileged.

The first of our stops heading south from Sydney in early 2023. It was the perfect start to our journey, a truly relaxing few days of sightseeing, talking, singing, laughing, loving.

This was a reunion of people, locations, and spirits on the south coast of New Souty Wales, the region where Harry and I visited in our teens aboard my VW pop-top Kombi, on a holidy where Ian played guitar and flute, I sang and wrote poetry, particularly Salted Lips of Time written at Moruya Heads, and we just chilled like genuine '70's hippies.

I had no idea until recently that Harry had photos of that trip, and the only photos I believe in existence of the VW Kombi, so I've included them here. The shorts I'm wearing look like a nappy, probably appropriate at the time.....

And then there was the toilet, severely calcified but dealt a final death nblow by moi.... Yet we prevailed, dunny repairs completed, and a great time shared.

A significant gathering of family and friends at South West Rocks, New South Wales.

Celebrated at South West Rocks, New South Wales.

As we wandered towards our luncheon booking at Blu Eye Seafood, following a couple of hours meandering around the Salamanca Markets, we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves front and centre with a formal presentation from the service personnel of HMAS Hobart. I hope, with little optimism, that we'll not need to be calling upon these gallant Australians to protect us in the years ahead.

2023 Australian International Olive Award Results

by Stephen Parker November 10, 2023

Here's a summary of our results from the Show:

Trophies

• Geelong Region Olives Bundara View Koroneiki – Best in Show, Commercial Volume
• Geelong Region Olives Bundara View Koroneiki – Best Australian EVOO
• Geelong Region Olives Bundara View Koroneiki – Best Victorian EVOO
• Geelong Region Olives Bundara View Koroneiki – Champion Greek Varietal EVOO

Medals

• Geelong Region Olives Bundara View Koroneiki – Gold
• Geelong Region Olives Mt Moriac Olives Mediterranean – Gold
• Geelong Region Olives Mason’s Creek Estate Corregiola – Gold
• Geelong Region Olives Mason’s Creek Estate Blend – Gold
• Geelong Region Olives Mt Moriac Olives Estate Spanish – Gold
• Geelong Region Olives Mt Moriac Olives Ligurian – Silver
• Geelong Region Olives Barwon River Olives Estate Tuscan – Silver
• Geelong Region Olives Mt Moriac Olives Estate Tuscan – Silver
• Geelong Region Olives Bundara View Estate Taggiasca – Silver
• Geelong Region Olives Barwon River Olives Estate Picual – Bronze
• Geelong Region Olives Bello Marco Estate Picual – Bronze

Welcome to our first instalment of a new weekly blog.  Plenty of exciting things happening here at Geelong Region Olives and we are super keen to share with you all things Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Our weekly blog aims to give you an insight into the amazing groves we manage, the award winning oils we produce and some of the top restaurants throughout the region we are proud to supply.  

What better way to kick off our first post than to share our results from the Australian International Olive Awards which were held in Canberra last week.  Producers from all over the country and internationally came together to celebrate the season that was and showcase their amazing olive products.  

The awards are recognised as an industry benchmark both here in Australia and globally.  

Our Bundara View Koroneiki was an absolute standout claiming the most prestigious award of BEST IN SHOW.  It also took out best in class, best in state, country and southern hemisphere.  

Bundara View is situated within the rolling hills of the Golden Plains of Western Victoria, along the Leigh River Valley.  The two main plantings being Koroneiki and Taggiasca.  

Prior to the harvest this year we put a lot of effort into pruning the grove and getting the trees to an optimal size for mechanical shaking. Opening up the canopy and promoting growth proved beneficial as we had an impressive crop with above average oil yield. 

Like most other producers, our harvest season was a lot later than usual and this grove was harvested in mid July, which was the optimal time for this fruit and part of the reason the oil was of outstanding quality.  

We ensure the fruit comes straight from the tree to the processing plant to be pressed in no time at all. 

The judges described it as having 'interesting aromas of pink grapefruit, pink lemonade, green apple peel and tropical fruits.... long flavoursome length with plenty of fruit and flavour."   And we agree! 

We were absolutely humbled to receive such amazing results and we will continue to strive for the very best when it comes to local, quality produce.  

What a delightful location to spend a couple of days, so close to Hobart. The historic homestead of Glen Derwent is managed by Liz and Rob, who have operated the property for seven years, and offered the weekend Devonshire and high tea service for most of that time.

The property is awash with free-roaming chooks, sheep, and peacocks, green grass and still waters. Both powered and unpowered sites are available to caravans, camper vans and motorhomes, with potable water included. All campers must be self-contained - own toilets and showers.

We spent a few nights with our friends Pete and Deb, which included a cruise aboard their electric motored runabout - one strike on our trolled lure, but no captures.

This site exemplifies the opportunities which await travellers in Tasmania. Plenty of sites for caravans, camper vans, and buses, with water, bibs, and a dump-point. You need to be self-contained, there are no toilets or showers. Fires are allowed in enclosed BYO units which are off the ground.

If you're in Tasmania's north-west, do yourself a favour and visit Mark and Michelle at Marrawah Inn. You can park your caravan or camper van on a gated level bitumen pad behind the pub. The bathroom is to die for, with a full en-suite including rain head shower ($2 for 4 mins). There's also a separate toilet with external basin.

At the time of writing the nightly tariff was $15.00, which included a beer or glass of wine.

The meals are high quality and generous, but it's the proprietors who make this place special - two nicer people you'll never find.

This paid caravan site is for fully self-contained vehicles. It is essentially waterfront, and has potable water and a dump-point. It is strictly first-in best-dressed, with no bookings, and it does tend to fill up most nights. The cost is $10.00 per night, with a pay five, stay seven option, which you can pay progressively should you so choose.

The site is immediately adjacent to Stanley Golf Club, which welcomes visitors for golf, dining, or a drink at the bar. Friday night is raffle night (with thanks to Mark Hursey for donating the whole snapper we won..!!!). A short walk along the waterfront takes you to Hursey Seafoods and it's Restaurant, which is superb. The entire town is within walking distance, with a multitude of dining, accommodation, and shopping options for a small town.

The town itself is unbelievably pretty, full to the brim with character buildings, all nestled at the base of The Nut, a giant natural rock structure affectionately called Tasmania's Uluru.

Add the chairlift to the top of The Nut, the sunset penguins landing in the shore, and fishing off the jetty, and you have all you need for a multi-day stay.

Available only to fully self-contained vehicles, this free ocean-front campsite has numerous sites but is extremely popular and does fill up. Bookings are not available, it is strictly first-come first-served. There is no water, and only one Council bin. There is a fabulous beach nearby, with access across the train track for walking, swimming, and fishing. The traffic noise is barely noticeable, nor is the sound of the occasional passing train. Sites are predominantly level and well grassed.

What a wonderful start to our trip. Situated a very short drive from the ferry disembarkation, Mersey Bluff offers a perfect welcome to Tasmania.

Luke and Carolyn are excellent hosts, maintaining a very tidy park, a welcome cycle escort to your site, and plenty of advice on the sights to visit and routes to take on your Tassie sojourn. We booked for three nights, extended to four, and could have stayed more.

Firewood can be purchased at reception for $15 per bag.

Whilst there are plenty of free and low-cost accommodation options around the Apple Isle, especially for self-contained vehicles, I consider this caravan park to be a worthy indulgence at either or both ends of your travels.

The initial reason for selecting Molloy's over the two caravan parks in Augusta was the wind - the forecast was for continuing very high winds during our stay in the region. The winds proved a godsend, as we discovered an amazin facility.

A very attractive waterfront hideaway in the south-east of Western Australia.

What a location this is. 

After a mechanical malfunction to our Coaster, we found ourselves calling the minimalist town of Cocklebiddy home for a little while. By town, we mean the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, as this place constitutes the entire town.

We were 'fortunate' to break down on the highway immediately after lunching here (I recommend the chips with gravy), and the bus failed us next to a Telstra tower where the amazing Pete and Abby were working to improve the area's internet reception. They not only towed us back to the Roadhouse, but Pete then installed our replacement belts (which were still a little loose, and we all feared were the wrong Toyota belts).

So a night at the Cocklebiddy Caravan Park was to follow. Whilst the toilets and showers are basic (showers $4 for 7 minutes), they were fully functional and surprisingly clean. A powered site was $30 per night, or $25 unpowered. The gravel sites are fully level, and turned out to be extremely popular with numerous overnight visitors.

Other benefits are the adjacent service station and shop, a kiosk serving hot food and many food supplies, a bar with pool table, and a dining room. Local celebrities are Sammy and Bruce, two magnificent rescue wedge-tailed eagles. Most importantly the team were a delight, in the servo, behind the bar, and in other support roles. Special mention to Dave, Troy and Jack for helping us resolve our mechanical issues.

Only 12km down the road from the WA/SA border, after you've passed your quarantine inspection.

Showers are $A1 coins for 4-5 mins, plenty of time for most.

The amenities were spotless when we visited. Camp kitchen is basic.

The view is terrific if you choose one of the limited easterly spots.

Rates were $30 per night for both powered and unpowered.

Visit the Old Telegraph Station down the road, and the memorials adjacent to the camp ground.

A little business, a little grandchild on the way. California here we come.

Always a joy to catch up with John and Annette, and thoroughly enhanced by meeting John's lovely sister Michelle and her extraordinary daughter Zoe. Now there's your classic under-achiever, an elite level athlete, scholar, musician, and all around beautiful human. It was a great night of wine, nibbles, chat and song.

A sunrise in paradise.

This morning's adventure is brought to you by our other-Coaster neighbour Wayne, who supplied me with cracking local fishing knowledge, tips, and a second loaner beach rod and reel. Best to have at least two lines in the water, and we wanted to test two different rigs (a wire and a nylon variation of the Paternoster rig).

The trick lay, apparently, in wading out through the close-in channel and onto the sandbar, then casting beyond the bar. So here we were, enjoying the incredible sunrise, when I realise it's near dead low tide - my opportunity to cross the channel. The water was very fresh, so on went the full waders. Sammy held one rod whilst I waded out across the sandbank, cast the first line out, waded back, exchanged rods with Sammy, then repeated the process.

On returning to the shore I checked the first reel's drag tension, then looked at Wayne's reel - to find there was no line on the reel....!!!! I looked down the beach to see the last of the line heading towards the surf. I raced down and retrieved the line in time. With Sammy's help I then fed the line back through the rod and tied it to the reel housing, before winding up some slack line. With this excitement behind us, we grabbed our morning coffees and settled into our beach chairs (thanks kids, these and the little table are so often in use).

The end result - no fish..... Care factor very, very low. A fun start to the day.

After a shared generous plate of nachos, my dessert of choice was the chocolate-coated peanut butter ice cream, not so much a delicacy as a three-course meal (once you include the cone). I was literally incapable of eating another thing for the rest of the day.

Lester and Collette are the delights who run this place. Lester was full of great information and advice about travelling destinations, funny as hell, and could not help us enough with our needs whilst visiting overnight.

For travellers, there are plenty of grassy spots for caravans and camper vans, two potable water taps, a skip bin for rubbish, and use of the toilets during cafe trading hours.

What a fantastic town to visit, loaded with history.

The untamed unspoiled wilderness that is southern Bruny Island welcomes you.

Duration
  3 Hours Approximately

Operates
  Daily, except Christmas Day

Departs From
1005 Adventure Bay Road
Adventure Bay
Bruny Island
 View on Map

Prices up to 31 March 2024
Adult $155
Child (3-16 yrs) $95 
Family $490 
(2 adults, 3 children)

Prices from 1 April 2024
Adult $175
Child (3-16 yrs) $105 
Family $540 
(2 adults, 3 children)

It was action aplenty at a very busy Salamanca Markets in Hobart. By mid-morning it was cheek-by-jowl, but cleared significantly after lunch. The significant range of stall offerings meant there was something for everyone. Our chorizo and chicken paella was excellent. I couldn't go past one of the many hat stalls without acquiring a new driving cap. The entertainment was varied and interesting, and most of it was simply terrific.

Following an excellent lunch, we wandered around Hobart's waterfront, from one pier to another along Constitution Dock.

If you're in the area, make a point of visiting Waddamana Power Station, which is now a museum. Allow a couple of hours - it has a fascinating story behind it, and much of it remains untouched since it last operated. Instead of 'Where's Wally' you can play 'Where's Sammy' - hint: last photo....

As part of a day trip from our digs on the shore of Great Lake, we travelled with our friends Pete and Deb to Pine Lake for a fairly short but fascinating wander along the boardwalk. It's worthwhile reading the information boards along the way.

A delightful distillery which has been established in Table Cape, north-west Tasmania by a lovely English couple Matt and Sarah.

Sarah conducted our tasting, and presented some excellent options from which we chose the absolutely sublime Limoncello. The effort they've put into the tasting room and the surrounding buildings and environs is in itself worth the visit.

Check them out at alchymiadistillery.com.

What an amazing, prehistoric, unspoiled, clean-aired environment.

What an incredible day cruising the pristine Arthur River.

We decided some exercise was in order, and off we went to the beach at Green Point. The scenery was spectacular, the gradient challenging, the destination sublime, the company as wonderful as ever. The location boasts a free campground, a cold shower, toilets and a shelter.

An elegant old building complete with numerous outbuildings and facilities.

Frozen in time, this picture-perfect colonial outpost is one of the most charming towns you could visit. Set on a peninsula in Tasmania's north-west, it boast fabulous historic buildings throughout. Apart from the incredible spectacle of The Nut, which we hope to visit by cable-car when the wind subsides, there are numerous quality wining and dining options. Accommodation options are also many and varied. And to top it all off, the penguins arrive at sunset, and we saw our first as we sauntered home last night from the Stanley Wine Bar. We'll be lingering here in Stanley for a while.....

A little poem I wrote of our splendid Day Five:

Day Five

We booked recliners for the day trip, which we found a valuable investment.

A seamless, orderly, and friendly process, despite the high volume of passengers.

One of the more anticipated destinations, Cheynes Beach didn't disappoint despite the disappointing weather.

Fowlers Bay is an extraordinary location, our first stop on our journey across the Nullarbor Plain.

So we met whilst camped with our ClubMaster bus Valoury at Streaky Bay, South Australia, and hit it off so well. Chats lead to shiraz, and the promise of a muscat which subsequently could not be found. We parted company the following day, after which I thought I'd revisit the broad spirit of The Commitments' version of Mustang Sally. So here it is, and Cathy and Mike, we wait in hope:

Muscat Lavis

Streaky Bay is a terrific little town.

Kimba

A couple of glorious days aboard our bus Valoury as we travelled from Torquay along the Great Ocean Road.

With no shortage of quality dining and recreation options, the Torquay area, with a number of nearby towns and hamlets, also enjoys an abundance of exceptional beaches, parks, and accommodation.

It was pouring with rain for much of our visit, but the charm of this beautiful village shone through.

A few quality days at Narooma on the New South Wales south coast.

An interesting visit to the headland at Moruya.

Whale watching, plenty of sightseeing, sunbaking, swimming, snorkelling, and a whole lot of fun. This should be on everyone's bucket list.

The old beer garden has come a long way since the '70's, and is now an absolute delight. The food was excellent, the live music was superb. I had the pleasure of dining with my aunt, my wife, my daughter, and my granddaughter, and dancing the afternoon away with my granddaughter, now three, who really had her groove on until she fell asleep in my arms. Pretty much a perfect Sunday afternoon for this bloke.

The Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay, Sydney, Australia.

A near perfect winter's day, in the beer garden of one of Sydney's finest pubs, with family and friends. It doesn't get much better than this.

Right next door to Co-Op Toyota, this is an excellent location for that lazy breakfast. With a Japanese infusion into the menu, the options are many and varied.

Just fabulous, this little gem in North Hobart/Ryde is warm and inviting, immaculately presented, and well serviced. The food was also excellent and promptly served. One of the tidiest pubs we've ever visited, with dedicated and friendly staff.

The character simply oozes from this old pub, resplendent with roaring open fireplace (with a bowl of self-serve complimentary marshmallows on the mantle). The service from Hayden and the team was friendly and thorough, with an impressive suite of ales and ciders on tap.

There's a cracking story behind the property which now forms The Kempton Distillery. 

This was a case of a generally exceptional experience, including warmth, humour, delight, failure, pathos, and redemption.

Callington Mill delivers a high quality environment, quality decor, exceptional presentation (paper napkins notwithstanding), quality food and beverages, and generally fabulous service.

We were very pleased with our choices of kingfish, cauliflower arancini, and citrus tart, all of which were a delight and ably supported by the Frogmore Creek sparkling cuve and sauvignon blanc.

The distillery's whisky tasting paddle was a treat, and in this lucky instance included a bonus fifth half-shot to invite me to taste one of the more peaty products. The whiskies are mostly international award-winners, and whilst expensive by the bottle are well worth tasting. They are indeed of international standard.

Generally flawless service was marred by us staring at our completed mains plates for nearly half an hour (only resolved by us signalling for attention), however our compensation on noting this to staff was the whisky paddle being immediately comped without any request by me - a most reasonable and gallant response.

All in all, this was a delightful experience, and I would happily return. Congratulations to John Ibrahim (not the Sydney identity) and his team for adding such a high quality establishment to the already delightful town of Oatlands.

In the historic Tasmanian midlands town of Oatlands, The Kentish Hotel stands proud. Built in 1832 in what is now the most in tact Georgian town in Australia, this heritage listed country pub is the beating heart of the community it serves. Boasting a bar, restaurant, cafe and accomodation, The Kentish is the perfect place to grab a drink, dine on deliciously fresh Tassie produce or settle in to a cosy room for the night.

The Albert Pilsner on tap is well worth a try.

Only 30 minutes from central Hobart lies the town of New Norfolk, one feature of which is the delightful historic property of Glen Derwent. Weekends usher in the opportunity for Devonshire Tea or High Tea. Rob and Liz will take excellent care of you. The scones were freshly baked to order, and Sammy declared her gluten-free ones as excellent as I found mine. The jams are to die for, especially the raspberry.

We dined here with friends, then twice we returned for lunch. Each experience was a treat, with funny and attentive staff, high quality food, and a fine selection of beverages. The ambience is perfectly suited to the location, with a modern mountain decor including two roaring fireplaces (when the weather demands) complete with leather lounges.

The menu is upmarket pub, including a terrific seafood chowder and exceptional desserts. The staff were diligent in attending to Sammy's gluten and lactose intolerances.

In addition to the many dining and hospitality options at Great Lake Hotel, Miena Village also offers a general store with fuel, motel style accommodation, both powered and unpowered caravan sites, toilets and showers and potable water, and substantial general car parking. This is a genuine hub.

We're probably visiting a fourth time, should our travel itinerary come to fruition.

Our thanks to James, Nicki, Declan, Shane, Deirdre, and all for your attention and quality service.

This was so much fun in very chilly conditions with our friends John and Annette, and Pete and Debbie. Finger foods, a few drinks, and a dance to a fabulous local band.

This is a delightful stopover as you journey through Tasmania's west.

There are some establishments where you dine on reputation of the chef, or on the local ingredients, or simply on location or brand. Marrawah Inn is where you dine on love - the love injected by Mark and Michelle into their staff, their customers, their community. 
 

We dined here for a few nights, tasting lamb shank with mash and vegetables, garlic prawns on rice, grilled flake with chips, and various desserts including Eaton Mess, and Affogato. Delicious, delightful, generous, and served with the proprietor's warmth and charm. Count us in, we'll never again visit the north-west of this State without visiting the Marrawah Inn.

After our previous night of over-indulgence at Hursey Seafoods and Stanley Wine Bar, we decided to eat light this evening. Being guests of the Stanley Rec Site, which is managed by Stanley Golf Club, it was only right to patronise the Club's Friday night raffle. The surprise packages were twofold: firstly, the in-house Shadys Restaurant served a very high quality of food - we chose the marinated octopus and the hand-cut chips from their tapas menu, both of which were truly excellent; and secondly, we won a large whole snapper in the raffle....!! It was a challenge fitting the fish in the Engel freezer..!!

Another memorable day at the base of The Nut.

Another great Tassie experience was meeting fellow travellers Alan and Angela in the front room of the Stanley Wine Bar. Our host Michael was engaging, entertaining, and generous. the place is so filled with memorabilia and outrageous inclusions that you need time to soak it all in. Visit the rear courtyard on warmer days. Definitely a highlight of our journey so far.

It was a delightful dinner for two in the upstairs Hursey Restaurant. The seafood chowder entree was magnificent, and could have served as a mains, and the Fisheman's Plate was also exceptional. Service friendly, funny and efficient. The modern, minimalist decor served well. The views are fabulous.

Well that's a surprise, dropping in to buy a couple of bottles of pickled onions, and finding a cafe restaurant in full flight, chock-a-block with tourists and locals alike. We'd already fed ourselves, so I ordered a coffee and we shared a lemon meringue tart. This tart was truly sublime, and was voted by us both as the best we'd ever tasted. The staff were fun, the pickling factory is viewable behind glass windows and on screen. A fabulous start to our journey from Devonport as headed north-west.

What a location, what a venue, what service, what meals...!!! Quality abounds at Drift Beachside Brunch, Devonport. 

What a pleasant step into the fully renovated environs of The Sir George hotel, built in 1852 on its current site after the original pub was washed away in the floods.

Apparently the property was purchased and renovated by a Sydney mother-daughter partnership. Additions included an exceptional wedding venue with multi-cabin accommodation. We understand the property was subsequently sold, with the new owners maintaining the grounds impeccably.

A fine dinner at Lorraine's Bistro in The Robin Hood Hotel, Waverley, with the Aitken's, Freed's and Mather's. Wonderful to catch up with guys I've known since we were about five years old, and to enjoy quality time with Alex, Mandy, Tamar and Sammy.

What a warm and fuzzy feel when you walk into this place? Open fireplaces, sandstock brickwork, very nice indeed.

An interesting visit, where we learned of the 10,000 artificial structures situated 1.5km offshore from this venue. Abalone prepared or in natural state, including thin slices ready for a gentle 30 seconds per side over the grill, a delightful luxury for that special occasion. At around $180 per kg, you might want to limit your guests at that dinner party...!! You can grab a coffee and a snack here, and buy your abalone to prepare at home.

Style.

Drift is a quality restaurant with a casual beach vibe, situated in a fantastic waterfront location adjacent to the Streaky Bay Wharf. The food and service were boith excellent on our visit.

Opening hours are limited, so best to check.

Menus and prices are as at 8th March 2023.

A wholesome (coffee, juice, etc.) reunion at Double Bay, whilst Rob was in town from his home in the USA.

We learnt early on that efficiency in the harvesting process was critical for any chance of producing value for money and consistently great quality extra virgin olive oil.  Doing things by hand produced mixed results so we changed our work practices and groomed our trees for mechanical harvesting.

Instead of weeks to complete the harvest, it is now usually completed within 2-3 days.  We have our Extra Virgin Olive Oil back to us from the processing plant within 24 hours and begin the settling process immediately in our Stainless Steel tanks.

Our crop sizes have been as big as 30,000kg with oil yields of ~5,000+L of Extra Virgin Olive oil. Given our scale we aim to be a value provider of extra virgin olive oil and not a small scale boutique provider.  At full production we are expecting around 50,000kg of fruit.

We still consider ourselves Artisans because we learn as much as we can about our trade and put all our love and skill into producing our products for you.  We've never needed to buy oil or fruit from elsewhere having been a seller of fruit and oil to other growers given our size.

We aim to have healthy trees with the lightest touch possible from any chemicals.  By regular pruning and shaping of the trees we have achieved this.  As with any primary production enterprise nutrient is being removed from the soil by the fact of growing a crop, tree or feeding animals so we replenish the nutrients from time to time with organic compounds and soil improvers and use mulch to help sustain and encourage the biological processes.

We do knock down the weeds once or twice a year as you can see in the image here.

Miss you Stu.

Farewelling our much loved sister, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt, cousin, and friend.

Please feel free to view the service via the following link:

https://vimeopro.com/walkerfunerals/past-funerals/video/831392785
 

A Reflection

©️ Michael Reid 2023

Around the country we are remembering Pete at sunrise on a beach.

We will miss you Pete, and we'll think of you with every fish and every wave that we catch. 

Thanks for the images to those who took them over the years.

Justin is doing the rounds in his bid for election in Lyons, presenting his views to the folks of New Norfolk and central Tasmania. We had a brief but interesting discussion on politics, health, education, and his passion to serve his community.

For those interested in learning more about Justin, you might select this link: https://tas.liberal.org.au/our-team/justin-derksen

The Humanity Standard

Many of the world’s minds have been contemplating the future of the USD in its role as the global economic unit of account.

Many are positing that Bitcoin will inevitably replace the USD. Others are anticipating a return of the Gold Standard. China, of course, is jockeying for the Yuan to take this role.

In my humble opinion all of these would be a misstep. They would all would fall short of the measure we need to define the next chapter for humanity.

In contemplating a new unit of account for the next century, we should seek one which reflects the global human condition on the broadest scale possible. It is a standard which should identify the quality-of-life status of the masses, eliminating the distortions created by the super wealthy. It should also be a standard which actively encourages us all to seek to lift all boats, to eliminate poverty, disease, repression and tyranny.

In this context I propose The Humanity Standard.

The Humanity Standard will inform us how we’re performing as humans, on a global scale. It will link us and our condition to each other.

Normally an index would apply a balanced perspective by discounting the top and bottom margins. This is a method we apply when presenting various indices, such as index interest rates - we choose not to count, say, the top or bottom 10%, and to average the 80% in between. This formula serves in eliminating the distortions often created by outliers.

My proposal for The Humanity Standard varies somewhat from this methodology, in that we do not wish to dispossess any of the poorest, the unhealthiest, the most repressed. We do, however, wish to ignore, for the purpose of this super-index, only the extremes at the top end of wealth, health, and freedom, as they ridiculously distort the true picture of humanity on a global scale.

Thus we would include in our calculations the bottom 10%, but not the top 10%, of the global population.

All the world’s financial markets and exchange rates should compare against The Humanity Standard, which is a composite of indices reflecting the critical factors which determine our collective position as a global village. 

The key indices I propose to be included are:

1. net wealth, 
2. net income, 
3. health, 
4. safety, and 
5. freedom. 

As described above, these indices are calculated on the bottom 90% of the world’s population.

The Humanity Standard does not assess regions, continents, countries, states, governments, companies or other entities. It only assesses living individuals.

One critical element to be resolved is the weighting of the five indices. In the interests of simplicity, transparency, and honesty, I propose each index be afforded equal weight.

Another critical element is the base currency for measure of relative wealth and income. This needs to be a unit of measure with the least potential for manipulation by governments, market-makers, and corporations. This requires further assessment, however BTC is perhaps the simplest option at present.

Another is of course the formulae to be employed in measuring the qualitative indices of health, safety, and freedom. These indices already exist in many forms, including some with significant autonomy and integrity. I do not anticipate this aspect to offer any significant impediment.

Once all these elements are established, it would be appropriate to embed them into a smart contract on the blockchain, to limit unwanted interference in the formulae, calculations and reports.

Many will argue that The Humanity Standard is some form of communist plot to isolate the wealthiest from the rest of the world. On the contrary, there is a natural disinclination to eliminate such an enormous amount of wealth and income from calculations. This composite index, however, is not meant to measure the value of the world’s population. It is meant to measure our humanity. Hopefully this will cause us all to approach the future with a view to unifying humanity, by ensuring that our own measure of real value is directly connected to the status of all humanity. 

Our goal is to have The Humanity Standard constantly rising, and never, ever falling.

Michael Reid

29th January 2024 (as amended)

©️ Michael G. Reid 2024

About the Author:

I am not a scholar, I am not an industry leader, I am not a politician. I am a common man, with no particular axe to grind other than a desire for humanity everywhere to be financially comfortable, healthy, safe, and free. I am personally in reasonable health, financially comfortable without being extremely wealthy, and I live in one of the most stable and successful democracies in the world.

By way of full disclosure, I have been designing a digital currency which might provide the solution to the issue of measuring relative wealth and income, however I’m likely to run out of energy, commitment, breath or other resources before that project takes flight….. 😃 

This piece was written on a deck outside our camper van, whilst visiting the magnificent Mersey Bluff Caravan Park in northern Tasmania. The image accompanying this Post is my view….

What a crazy atmosphere, and what an amazing stadium...!!! Not to mention, a great result for the Chargers. From the car park tailgates to the national anthem, to all the accompanying razzmatazz, the longest football game in the world was an absolute treat. My thanks to Nick and Bec for a great day, and special thanks to Grammy for holding the fort and minding the baby... 

The beaches of Devonport

T 1136-1137 BLUFF BEACH (DEVONPORT SLSC)

Beach Details

No.          Beach             Rating               Type                     Length

T1136     Bluff Beach     HT 4  LT 4         R + LTT               300m

T1137     Bluff Beach     (E)HT 4 LT 5     R + Rock Flats     700m

Spring & neap tidal range = 2.5 m & 2.1 m

Patrols: Devonport SLSC - DEC to MAR weekends & public holidays, Noon to 5PM

Devonport is the largest town on the north coast of Tasmania. It has a population of 25 000 and is the major port of entry for people arriving by car ferry from Melbourne. As the ferry passes through the narrow entrance to the Mersey River, the Bluff Beach is one of the first sights. The city is located on both banks of the river and divided into East Devonport, Devonport and North Devonport. The city has all facilities for travellers and tourists, as well as extensive coastal reserves backing the beaches and river. There are three main surfing beaches (T 1132 ,1136 & 1137), all located in North Devonport 1-2 km from the city centre. The beaches are bordered by rocks and bluffs and vary in orientation and exposure, providing a range of beach and surfing conditions (Fig. map).

Devonport’s main surfing beaches and the surf club are located either side of The Bluff.
Bluff Beach (T 1136) is a low gradient 300 m long northeast-facing, sandy beach located on the more protected eastern side of Mersey Bluff. The 20 m high Bluff and its rich aboriginal occupation sites is a major tourist destination and provides a good view of the beach. The beach is backed by a large foreshore reserve containing the Devonport Surf Life Saving Club complex including a fine-dining resuarant, cafe, clubhouse, patrol rooms, first aid room, craft storage and court yard.  Other facilities include a skate park, large car park and picnic and playground facilities.  Additional recreational facilities are also available on the Bluff. Waves average 0.5 m, while tides range up to 3 m, and combine to produce a very narrow high tide beach, with waves sometimes reaching the low backing seawall, while at low tide the low gradient beach may be up to 100 m wide. Rocks and rock flats begin to dominate off the eastern end of the beach.

Beach T 1137 commences at the low rocks that mark the end of Bluff Beach and curves to the southeast then east for 700 m to the western training wall of the Mersey River mouth. The wide reserve continues the length of the beach to the river. The beach is steep and narrow and composed of cobbles, with the intertidal rock flats extending 100m offshore. The Mersey River surf break runs along the side of the flats.

Swimming: Bluff Beach is the least hazardous, because of the usually lower waves and fewer rips and the presence of the surf club. Coles Beach is moderately hazardous with rips forming when waves exceed 0.5 m, while Back Beach is one of the more hazardous on the west north coast, and is only suitable for board surfing.

Surfing: Coles Beach is the more popular, while more experienced surfers will also surf Back Beach being careful to avoid the many rocks. During a bigger north swell there are also breaks along the outer banks of the Mersey River mouth.

The Mersey River mouth at Devonport divides the lower energy western from the more exposed eastern sections of the north coast.

The (admittedly wooden spoon winning) 1976 Sydney High 1st XV, and the 2nd XV, in action.

What an experience, 6th at the 1975 Head of the River, dropping to last place at the Head of the River in 1976 - a creditable 3rd in the Eights race of the CHS in 1976.

A fantastic year of rugby.

With thanks to our fabulous coach Steve Roll.

Honey soy garlic salmon stir fry 

• 4 salmon filet skinless, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 1/4 chopped cabbage
• 1 red capsicum seeded, sliced
• 1 onion large, peeled, cut into bite-sized wedges
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 4 bok choy, sliced and washed thoroughly 
• 6 cloves garlic finely minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped ginger
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water plus 1 tablespoon
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

INSTRUCTIONS 

• First, prepare the salmon. Start with a fresh, boneless, skinless fillet. Cut it into bite-sized cubes. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Next, prepare the vegetables. The capsicum should be seeded and sliced, then cut into bite size strips. Peel the onion and cut into bite-sided wedges. Peel and mince the garlic cloves.
• In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil over medium high to high heat. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the salmon to the wok. Cook for 3 minutes, shaking the wok and flipping the salmon GENTLY to cook on all sides. Transfer the salmon to a bowl, pour 1/2 of the honey and 1/2 of the soy over the salmon. Cover with foil, and keep warm.
• Then in the same wok, add the  onions. Cook and stir quickly for about 5 minutes or until crisp-tender.
• Add the cabbage and cook for 3 mins. 
• Stir in the garlic and cook until you can smell the garlic, about 1 minute.
• Carefully add the water, soy sauce, honey, and ginger to the vegetables. Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir to combine.
• Add remaining vegetables and cook for 3 minutes. 
• In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cold water. Pour this mixture into the wok and stir well.
• Increase heat to a low boil and cook for a minute or two until the sauce has thickened.
• Return the salmon to the pan, toss to coat well.
• Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.

ENJOY 😊 

Recently my mother-in-law (MIL) celebrated her 80 something a few years off 90th birthday and we were tasked with finding a birthday cake. There aren't too many places to buy a cake in South West Rocks so our options would be very limited.....One bakery, IGA and Coles.  The bakery didn't sell any birthday cakes (is a bakery even a bakery if it doesn't bake cakes), so off to IGA it was. If you've ever been to SWR you'll know that there is a cute cafe opposite IGA so we thought perhaps they might have cakes.  We walk in and there are two, yes 2 giant cakes that look divine. We ask if they will sell the whole cake (sorry if you went for coffee and cake that day and had slim pickings but we were desperate) .....and yes they would for a price.  SOLD!! My husband asks which one I prefer, and I reply it doesn't bother me as it's not gluten free so I won't be eating it.  Since having 3/4 of my bowel removed due to Cancer, I've become very Gluten intolerant so I normally don't get to enjoy the birthday cake. The lady responds, this one is Gluten Free as I made it. Happy days kids I get to enjoy cake with my MIL.

Other family members who participated in the ritual of birthday cake eating had no idea it was Gluten Free and it was the best....so far... Sponge and Gluten Free cake I've ever had.

I wonder whose Birthday is next ?