In Praise of Morning Teas The Men of the Trees Qld, (MOTT for short) love their Morning Teas. Of course,their first love, is TREES… planting and protecting them and their understorey companions, and being wowed by their beauty and individuality. But, “Smoko” comes second. That first hour-and-a-half on Saturday mornings,digging holes, planting, mulching, watering, or removing weed vines, or seed collecting, etc, calls for a wellearned break— wherever the work finds us. Then a different kind of magic happens. Our long-time member and friend, Rex,arrives on the scene, erects the folding tables and chairs stored in the MOTT ute and collects and sets up all the components that make up a perfect Morning Tea,from the essential thermoses, to Jean’s and sometimes Danya’s cooking of the day,Peter’s selection of favourite and exotic teas, and of course the tempting contributions from the team at large. Rex sets up our spread in an exemplary fashion celebrated by ourselves and other groups that has to be seen to be appreciated (unused spoons in the green cup, and used ones of course in the red). We scrub the mud from our hands at Gary’s washing station with spring water from his Samford paradise, deCobler’s Peg our sleeves, and then relax and enjoy the time, discussing the pros and cons of the day and solving most of the problems leftover from our official meetings. This while being serenaded, perhaps, by the Scarlet Honeyeaters or the Bar-shouldered Doves, or entertained, as recently at the South Pine River, by the Jezebel Butterfly looking for her mistletoe. Then our dear Rex packs it all up— the Morning Tea—
into the Ute, and returns our empty containers to our cars and bicycle; after which he slips away like the magician he is, as quietly as upon his arrival, with, if we are lucky enough to catch him, our thanks ringing after him through the trees. The last hour-and-a-half or two is then a bright and breezy rounding-up of the job in hand— watering, mulching, staking the plants, gathering the tubes, stacking the ute. What delectable oil-to-the-works are our Morning Teas. If the trials and tribulations of the world are not resolved at times like these, then whenever? A friend of ours at the Paten Park Native Nursery has referred to us as The Men of the Munch— an appellation that has its appeal. Morning Teas help plant trees. We have proven it over 40 years of bush restoration by 40 years of volunteers. You, by the way, are welcome to join our Morning Tea-break if you are passing the site of our Working-bee at 10.30am on any Saturday— to cheer us on— or, if you like, to stay.
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wyattauto.com.au sales@wyattauto.com.au 3300 2077 Located at BP The Gap, 850 Waterworks Road, The Gap 4061
The Western Echo September 2021 Page 8
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