Reading ……………………..22 to

from Beagle Weekender Vol 224 September 10th 2021

Community ………………4 to

Reading—A beer with Baz

The back screen door snapped shut and Baz stretched and blinked into the afternoon sun. He rubbed his eyes, scratched his head but his attention was piqued by the soft humming tunes from his neighbour’s backyard. He needlessly checked his watch as his parched tongue guided him to the fridge in the back shed.

Armed with two cold ones, Baz spent a moment looking over the fence. The neighbour’s back garden was meticulously presented, with straight rows of goodness promising vegetables and herbs.

His neighbour squatted amongst the plants, her floppy wide brimmed straw hat slightly frayed and faded, a link to summers past. Her hands moved deftly from plant to plant with regular pauses to massage the soil. ‘Hey, Chu Hua, how about a beer? I think it’s in the rules to have a chat with the neighbour.’ Chu Hua looked up and the thin film of perspiration made her face glow. Her single movement from haunches to standing without groan or grimace, had Baz straightening his crook knee and rubbing his back. Suitably distanced they both raised their stubbies in cheers and Chu Hua took a long sip. ‘Thirsty work eh, Chu Hua? How did you learn to grow a garden like that?” Chu Hua patted her brow. ‘Well Barry, my parents had a market garden and every bit of space was used. It’s a case of working out what grows best, good compost and if you tend to it daily you don’t need chemicals. We used to pick the produce daily and get it to the markets before dawn. It was hard work but my parents were very good at it and they learnt it all from their parents.’ Baz nodded and raised an eyebrow. ‘Where did you grow up?’ Chu Hua’s laugh lines mapped her face. ‘La Perouse in Sydney, Barry. You thought I was going to say China, but no, my parents used to farm the La Perouse Market Gardens. It’s been there for over one hundred and fifty years and they still do most of it by hand. In fact, its heritage listed these days which saves it from the development vultures. So Barry, my family has probably been here a lot longer than yours.’ Chu Hua scanned Baz’s backyard and took in the half completed gardening projects and smiled broadly. “How did you learn to NOT garden so well, Barry?’ Baz laughed out loud and took a decent drink. ‘That’s a bit rough, Chu Hua. As a kid, I was as keen as mustard. One spring I planted some carrots and then checked every day for results. My mother obviously felt sorry for me and dug in some whole carrots. I was tickled pink with these instant results and planted more varieties of vegetables. I became a bit surprised when ripe strawberries appeared in the cucumber plants one morning and downright suspicious on finding cleanly cut pumpkins the day after.’ Chu Hua’s teeth glistened in the sun. ‘Anyhow, Chu Hua, it all came to a sudden end when the old man cemented the whole backyard. He was not keen on gardening at all, and even hated mowing the lawn. On top of that, he was sick of the neighbours, who had perfect gardens, complaining about us kids digging tunnels into their yards to retrieve tennis balls from backyard cricket. Old Mrs Crawford from next door, got the fright off her life, when a head popped up amidst her sunflowers.’ The neighbourhood kookaburra flew off at Chu Hua’s laugh. She again scanned Barry’s backyard. ‘Now Barry, my mum would say ‘Yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ’ which translates to ‘Like father like son.’’

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018

MORUYA LADIES GOLF RESULTS

Wednesday, 8TH September A field of 32 ladies took advantage of the beau ful spring weather by par cipa ng in an 18 hole Stableford, whilst strictly adhering to Covid restric ons. A Grade Winners 1

st Pace: Pauline Nash - 38 ne

nd Place: Kath Fethers - 36 ne B Grade Winners 1

st Pace: Jeane e Hay - 39 ne

nd Place: Val Moore - 35 ne Pace Ge ers J Lumsden, J Hebbard, J Ellis, M Douglas, S Wallensky, D Smith, R Hawkins, D Meek, B Kennedy, M Bingham, D Davies, B Roberts, V Goodwin, C Becker, P Reid, M Muriwai.

Broulee Runners September 8th 2021

This week we have 30 results submi ed. Personal best mes were recorded by Samson Kennedy in the 2kilometres, Karen Harding in the 3.5-kilometres and Jenny Taylor in the 5-kilometres. The star of this week’s event is Zoe Whymark, who recorded her 30th run with the group. Zoe’s first run was on 4th of November 2020. At that me, we were coming out of restric ons and able to have both actual and virtual runners.

Now of course we are only able to have virtual runners! Her best me in the 5-kilometres is 23.48, which she achieved on 27 January this year. She is an accomplished athlete having a history of strong performances in marathons and long course triathlon events.

Sports Tuross Head Veterans Golf Results For Wednesday 8 Vol 16 September 15th 2017 September 2021 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018

Tuross Head Veteran golfer are clearly keen to “exercise” under the current Stay at Home regula ons with 56 par cipants registering for today’s Single Stableford compe on. Winner on the day was Lance Shadbolt with a brilliant score of 23 points, including 5 points for his first ever Hole in One on the 4th. Other major place ge ers were Robert McKirdy on 19, Ross Hendy on 18 and then new member Bruce Harding with 17 points on count back. Minor prizes were awarded to Neil Mather, Ross Davidson and Des Jackson all with 17, Len Rogers, Terry Lunn, Herb Muriwai and Kevin Reilly on 16, and finally Sandra Hanlon, Steve Swanbury, Peter Coffey and John Cox all with 15. Rob Nash had the dis nc on of winning this week’s Bradman award. Above: Lance Shadbolt, winner on the day, and also celebra ng his 1st ever Hole in One.