FORESTRY employee Bruce Flanagan received a nasty little scare as he drove his work vehicle down the Oxley Highway last week. Just as he reached the Oaklands Road turnoff near Yarrowitch, “Bruiser” looked in the rear view mirror only to be alerted that his ute was on fire. There was very little “Flano” could do to save his vehicle and in a short period of time, it was burnt out.

HAVE saddle will travel is the motto of at least a couple of local rough riders Gerard “Westy” Overby and Carl Green. Without putting the “mocka” on “Westy”, he is well in contention for Australian all-round cowboy of the year, attempting to pick up points wherever they are on offer. A few weeks back, the “dynamic duo” flew to western Australia to compete and then the next day the pair were in Canberra to ride in a rodeo there. If that isn’t dedication to their sport by “West” and Carl, I don’t know what is.

WALCHA Central School Primary were the first cabs off the learn to swim rank when they commenced their 10-day sessions on Monday. As the first group was getting dressed before leading back to school, teacher Jodie McAlister ended up in the possession of a spare shoe and was told at least 10 times it belonged to Ethan Naylor. When Jodie was informed for the 11th and 12th times who the owner was, she said that she was aware it was Ethan’s, and the next step the way things were going was to put it in the Walcha paper. Your wish is my command, Jodie.

URALLA Road resident Tracey was out bright and early one day last week just after 5am walking her dog on the dual bicycle and walking path when she moved over to let the “Mayor of Towers Street” Lawrence Hunt and Wayne Brennan ride their bikes past. When “Joey” and “Brenno” peddled on, Tracey immediately moved back onto the path and was lucky not to wear my front wheel as I was only a few metres behind them. It certainly didn’t take Tracey long to jump back off the path again to avoid being hit.

GOLDEN-haired wonder child Steph Sweeney was up to his old tricks earlier in the week when he visited the pool which he entered by the back laneway. My only problem was I was in the process of locking up after the early morning session and was out the front talking to Anna Wood and her mother Leslie Doyle when the council urban  works supervisor snuck into the pool kiosk and hid under the table before scaring the living daylights out of me shortly after. At least by now “Little Stevie” would be aware of what goes around comes around.

BOWLING club kitchen staff member Brooke Ledingham showed she could toss a salad last Saturday but probably wasn’t all that happy with her effort. Just as poor young Brooke negotiated the kitchen door carrying a platter of salad, something happened and it ended up on the floor. See Brooke for more info.

LUCKILY corner of Derby and Hill streets dweller John Smolders had his wife Judy with him when he visited Richo’s Home Timber and Hardware Store to explain the difference between push and pull as he attempted to enter the shop. Let’s just say, John was initially doing the opposite. Not the first person to be caught out the door and, without any fear of contradiction, won’t be the last.

IT really is marvellous what difference a week has made to the pool with the water improving from 19 celsius early last week to running at 27 celsius earlier this week.

AQUA aerobics will be re-introduced this Saturday from 11.30am to 12.30pm free of charge. Organisers Christine Ozinga and Lisa Kirton emphasise the sessions will be for fun and fitness with everyone invited to attend. Normal admission charges exist if you don’t have a season ticket. For any further information, please contact Christine or Lisa.

THE half-hour extension to the early morning session is going well with patrons utilising the extra 30 minutes between 7.30 and 8pm. Except for one day early last week, the offer of the later time has been taken up. It is great to see so many people getting their early morning exercise swimming a few laps now the water has warmed up.

DURING recent times, Joah Brazel and G.J Natty were down the coast doing what they do when they were deep in conversation with former Walcha resident Mark Peters which included a discussion about how white one of their fishing mate’s hair was. Turbo reckoned it was that white that it was dark white, which is only something that “Larma Farma” Mark could come out with.

LAST but far from least, wishing our local GP Adrian Allen a speedy recovery from his latest setback. Hope you are well and truly on the mend, Doc.