Hello Tuesday, time for a bit more about the dog on the tuckerbox.

A nation-wide competition was conducted to obtain the most suitable inscription for the monument, and the committee held that the lines written by the late Brian Fitzpatrick, of Sydney were the most appropriate. The verse reads………..

Earth’s self unfolds this monument

To conquerers who won her when

Wooing was dangerous and now

Are gathered unto her again.

Today as the dog, a silent reminder of the pioneer days sits sentinel-like at the Five Mile, Gundagai people acknowledge the huge debt it owes to the men who gave the district its great and invaluable publicity medium, and realise that had it not been for the vulgar doggerel concocted by a bush bard over 100 years ago. Who was inspired by a dog’s misbehaviour, there would have been no Pioneers’ Memorial and Gundagai would be minus the greatest publicity medium that has been given to any town in the Commonwealth.

After World War 11 a decision was made to erect a kiosk at Five Mile and to beautify the area by planting Australian trees and shrubs. The Gundagai Shire Council, Hospital Board and the Rotary Club combined in the big effort to raise the funds and on the 24^th April 1956 the then Premier of New South Wales, the late Hon J.J Cahill M.L.A unveiled a plaque on the kiosk. The inscription was:

This Pioneer Memorial and Park were officially opened by the Hon J.J. Cahill M.L.A, Premier and Colonial Treasurer of NSW on 24^th April 1956.

More next week…………

Good morning all, another bloody cold start to the day, it is a public holiday here for the Queens birthday. So here are 5 facts about Her Majesty.

Queen Elizabeth II was born on the 21st of April 1926. She’ll turn 94 this year. The Queen’s April birthday is a private affair which she spends with her family. The occasion is marked with 21 gun salutes in Windsor Great Park, 62 gun salutes at the Tower of London and 41 gun salutes in Hyde Park.

This tradition dates back to King George II (1683-1760) whose actual birthday was in November. As the weather wasn’t reliable enough for large public celebrations of his birthday, his official birthday was moved to coincide with the Trooping of the Colour in summer.

She’s the longest-reigning British monarch,

She speaks fluent French.

A new day that saw me roll out of bed (literally)at 5.30am. I washed and made breakfast and sent Kathy a text about my shower. Since she will be here tomorrow for Jess birthday lunch I suggested she shower me then.

Sandra took me to the cemetery to see Mum & Dad, she took Mum’s wheelchair but we couldn’t open it. It is now here and still we can’t get it to open.

Up at 6.30 checked the casserole it was good although some of the thickly cut carrot wasn’t cooked so put it on for a bit longer.

Everyone I expected turned up which was good, however, Kathy had a problem because I had invited Kelli. She said she felt out of place.

Kelli & Jess are more like sisters then cousins. So inviting her was for me the natural thing to do.

It was a good day but by the end I feel exhausted.

Monday again I woke at 5.27 and 10 mins later I was up and having a wash.

Sandra & Ed’s wedding anniversary

Leo’s early day, home at 2pm.

Trying out the Cpap mask without the extra cotton wool padding, as they told me at the hospital that with the new setting I shouldn’t need it.

Awake and up just before 6am, rang Tasha to make sure she was showering me before I got dressed. I am now showered and dressed for the day.

Jess drove Leo to school after they took Laylah(bunny) to the vet as there is a problem with her eye. The vet said they will have to sedate her and that may cause more problems. Leo is worried.

Jessica heard from the vet around 1ish and Laylah is fine.

Heard from the specialist in Sydney and I have an appointment on the 2^nd August at 12.20pm.

Slept through till alarm went off, a bloody cold morning even for me.

A bloody cold day

38yrs ago today Tim & I met, our first date saw us going to Pizza Hut then to a local club “Fannys”

he didn’t kiss me that night and I was worried he didn’t like me.

Had a rough night, at around 6ish last night I needed to pee and getting out of bed was very hard. I in fact fell out of bed and it took me 5 minutes to get off the floor.

This morning I had to get Tim to help me get out of bed.

Another bloody cold day.

Been raining lightly all day, so I wasn’t able to go with Leo this morning, nor meet him this afternoon.

Had a good night sleep, it is another bloody cold day. Tim up just after me, he started work at 7.50am.

Sandra came over to get copies of Mum & Dad’s death certificates so she could send them off to the credit card company.

Had a 2hr nap as I am not feeling great.

A late day as Jess didn’t get home till 5pm.

Life Without You

© Nikki Wilfong

Published: February 2008

Me without you
is like a leafless fall,
a snowless winter,
and a flowerless spring.

Me without you
is like a colorless rainbow,
a sunless day,
and a starless night.

Me without you
is like the ocean without a wave,
the beach without sand,
and a flameless fire.

Me without you
is like a book without words,
a man without a face,
and a child with no name.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/life-without-you

Hello Tuesday I am writing from a booklet I found amongst mum’s stuff. It is about the “dog on the tuckerbox”, have you heard of him or visited like I have done.

Much has been written and various stories told of the origin of this famous pioneers monument “The Dog On The Tuckerbox”, which is situated about 8 kilometres or 5 miles north from Gundagai on the Hume Highway. Nevertheless many do not know the correct story of the dog, or numerous happenings which finally led to the erection of the monument and its unveiling by the Prime Minister.

The true story is unique and the booklet I am using has facts of the famous dog, its creator, how it became famous and finally how the decision was made to erect a monument.

The people of Gundagai felt that symbolic of the pioneers was the faithful dog and the tuckerbox were indispensable to the historic band who opened up this vast country.

When the monument was unveiled on the 28^th November 1932 by the late J A Lyons, more than 3,000 people witnessed the ceremony.

Since the booklet is 8 pages long I will spread the story over a few weeks.

Good morning everyone, unless it isn’t morning were you are. It is a somewhat chilly morning here,although others may disagree.

Being Monday it is fact day so here we go.

1961 was the last year that can be written upside down and still appear the same. The next year that this is possible will be 6009.

Raw cashews poisonous

Victorian villains William Burke and William Hare used to dig up the dead and sell them to medical students. They stole bodies from graves in Edinburgh and soled them onto a doctor Robert Knox. When news spread of these happenings love ones in Edinburgh would cover their love ones graves with heavy iron grills to keep the evil pair at bay.

Because of this the pair turned to murder to keep up with the growing demand for the dead.

The magic word “abracadabra” was originally for the specific purpose of curing hay fever.

Saturday at last, I woke at 5.30am after a good nights sleep. Kathy & Summer came over so she could shower me and iron a few things.

Jess working today and Leo has been here all day.

A cold morning and a very cool day.

Had a distressing nights sleep partly because Tim was restless and a sod he kicked me for touching him, well it felt like that. He said my foot touched his and it tickled so he jerked and that’s how I was kicked.

Tim working today

Tasha & others say it is bloody cold but not to me, to me it is just nice.

Last day of May and I woke with the alarm after a mostly good nights sleep.

Had my mammogram this morning I was in and out pretty quick. Tim took me to the appointment.

While eating a piece of liquorice and a small piece got stuck in my throat. It took an hour to dislodge.

Woke at 5am couldn’t go back to sleep so got up and texted Tasha.

Tim rang up about the appointment in Sydney, was told Is need to see him in his private rooms, so I emailed off the referral and was called straight back as I sent the wrong form. This I fixed by sending the right form. So now I just have to wait, till I hear back.

Got into a mood when I asked Tim if he was taking me to the appointment at the JHH on Friday morning. He said NO he has other appointments on Friday and then went on that he didn’t know about my appointment.

I got annoyed as I have had this appointment since March with the letter taped to the lounge-room wall above my computer.

I knew Tasha wouldn’t do it and expected Jess to say the same. The don’t like hospital appointments. Tasha said she will speak to Jess.

Up with the alarm as did Tim, I was in the bathroom having my morning wash when Tim said he needed the bathroom as he had to get ready for work.

He then went on about how Jess doesn’t want to take me to the hospital on Friday, I said what did I say yesterday.

I asked Sandy but she is busy also.

Jess said she will come with me with me if Tim drives us.

Had another night with issues with my Cpap mask not staying done up.

Tim is sure we have another one I don’t think so but will have a look for it.

Tim helped me look but there is no mask anywhere.

Started raining at 1pm, and the temperature dropped. So I wasn’t able to meet Leo.

Up before the alarm, and dressed to go out as I had appointment at the sleep clinic about my Cpap machine. Jess came with me which was good. Tim drove us over and came and picked us up.

They said the pressure was set to high and they changed it so I will see how it goes tonight.

I was also told it was too dirty and reminded about cleaning the filter.;

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

By Dylan Thomas More Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night-by-dylan-thomas