May 26, 2012

Traralgon Creek

Traralgon Creek

There has been heavy rain in Traralgon over the past week, causing minor flooding of the Traralgon Creek. I used to like playing along the creek’s banks when I was a kid. It was pretty rough in those days (70s) with lots of blackberries, but in the town at least it has been pretty well cleaned up today. The creek used to flood significantly as well, but mitigation works have eased the threat.

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Me and Sir Richard Hadlee

Victoria Country v New Zealand at Traralgon

I rate New Zealander Sir Richard Hadlee the best bowler I ever saw, along with West Indians Curtley Ambrose and Joel Garner. Hadlee wasn’t express pace, but he was fast and he moved the ball through the air and off the seam. He spearheaded a successful New Zealand attack that included Lance Cairns, Ewen Chatfield and John Bracewell. I first saw Hadlee play for New Zealand against a Victorian Country XI at Traralgon on November 5, 1980 and obtained his autograph. I either had a day off school or took one, because I remember the match quite well.

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School marching

School marching

The twins had their primary school sports yesterday. Along with the traditional sprint and hurdles (over tiny jumps) they “competed” in a range of novelty events including an egg-and-spoon race (with a golf ball instead of an egg), sack race, goal kicking and minkey (hockey). It brought back memory fragments of my school sports at [...]

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Traralgon Post Office

Traralgon Post Office

The Traralgon Post Office is an iconic building on the corner of Franklin and Kay Streets. I grew up in Traralgon, and the post office is the only heritage building of its type that I can recall. Gippsland was settled for its rich farmland. Gold discoveries were mostly short-lived alluvial rushes in the mountains. Walhalla [...]

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Snow on the Strzelecki Ranges

The Strzelecki Ranges rise between the Latrobe Valley and Bass Strait in Victoria. They climb to about 740 metres at their highest point, Mount Tassie, but are basically just rolling hills in the west. They are home to rare temperate rainforests in the higher parts between Traralgon and Yarram. These hills were visible to me [...]

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