CELEBRATING NEW YEAR'S EVE

Having survived the Christmas festivities, the next thing to look forward to is New Years eve and how to spend it.

Our plan is a simple one. In the afternoon Lyn and I, together with with friends Robyn and John, will be training it to Flinders St Station, from where we plan on heading to Docklands for a look around, then on to Waterfront City/New Quay and maybe a ride on the Southern Star Observation Wheel, which rises 38 storeys from the ground.

The $40 million Southern Star Observation Wheel based on the hugely successful London Eye, is a giant ferris wheel, the second of its kind and 3rd highest in the world. It is 100 metres in diameter, featuring 21 airconditioned and enclosed glass cabins that showcase views stretching as far as Geelong. Whilst the cabins are similar in design to the London Eye, the Southern Star Observation Wheel features a unique state-of-the-art star-like structure whereas the wheel of the London Eye is similar to a bicycle wheel with spokes.

Having done that we will probably play the tourist and catch the,
City Circle Tram, followed by a coffee in one of Melbourne's trendy laneway cafes, take in a late afternoon movie and wend our way to the Golden Orchid in Chinatown, our favourite Chinese Restaurant which makes the absolute best satay's that one could ever want.

After that we will walk to Flinders St Station/Federation Square,
which will host a carnival, including swing and jazz ensembles and circus performers, until it is time for the 9.15pm family fireworks display. We will then catch the train home and hit the sack before midnight after what will have been a full day, in readiness for what brings with it.

We hope that will be good health and happiness, which is exactly what we wish for you and yours in 2009.

CHRISTMAS DAY 2008

For the very first time that I can remember in all of my seventy one years, there will only be the two of us for Christmas lunch and one, (guess which), is a virtual non drinker.

We generally have Christmas lunch with Carolyn, Brandt, Tom and Joe, but as it is Carolyn's turn this year to cook lunch for Brandt's family, we will be with them for Christmas dinner.

Before doing so we will visit my brother Brian and Betty and family early afternoon, as is our usual custom on Christmas Day.

Anthony, Megan, Nick and baby Tim are spending Christmas with Megan's family at Palmwood

on the Sunshine Coast, a particularly nice part of Australia and we will of course miss them.

They were with us in Hampton last Christmas and hopefully will be again next year.

Julie, Justin, Georgina and Susannah are likewise away from home spending their Christmas at Peterborough, where they have a holiday home not far from the Twelve Apostles and we will of course miss them too.

We were at Julie and Justins for Christmas lunch last year along with Anthony, Megan, Nick and had a lovely day.

How could you not when you are with your family and grandchildren who we just love spending time with.

The problem however is that they are growing up too fast for our liking.

Tom, (big Tom), will be sixteen in January and is taller than his father.

His big love is cycling and thinks nothing of joining "the pack" on Beach Road for a 70-80km

ride to the Peninsula and back.

However having recently "discovered" track riding, he has now added that to his list of interests.

Joe who will be thirteen on February 13 and doubles as my IT expert, also likes cycling,

although he is not as much in to yet as yet as big brother Tom.

Georgina who will be ten in March and Susannah who turned six on December 12,

are just the most beautiful little girls and are a real delight to both Lyn and I.

They are spending the holidays, (about a month), at Peterborough and will no doubt enjoy the time spent at the beach.

As Nick who will be eight in February and Tim, one in March, live in Sydney

we don't unfortunately get to see as much as them as we would like to.

We speak regularly on the phone and communicate via the web cam, but there is nothing like being there with them in person.

Nick was very pleased when his new brother arrived earlier this year and loves playing

the big brother role, while Tim as one would expect is yet to make his mark.

We look forward to spending some quality time with both Tim and Nick when we go to Sydney sometime early in the New Year.

ST BEDE'S COLLEGE YEAR 7 PUBLIC SPEAKING AWARD

 Joe, our second grandchild/son,

has had a great first year at St Bede's College, Mentone,

taking out both the ACC College's and St Bede's College, 2008, Year 7, Public Speaking Award.

We were pleased to be able to attend two of Joe's Public Speaking nights,

(St Bede's and De La Salle College, Malvern),

when he gave an interesting talk on the Tour De France, prior to his impromptu speeches

to a large audience that included his "proud" grandparents. On ya Joe

20th BLUEGRASS CONVENTION, NOVEMBER 2008, HARRIETVILLE (via BRIGHT) VICTORIA

Just a week back from Harrietville,(the last town from Bright,[22km], on the Great Alpine Road before you go over Mount Hotham, or the first over Mount Hotham if you come in from the Omeo side), where we spent four very enjoyable days with friends John & Robyn, (or should that be Robyn & John), at the 20th Bluegrass Convention which we stumbled upon and enjoyed so much last year. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.....

A lone cyclist who missed the Harrietville turn off!

The convention was unbelievably good with top notch Bluegrass Bands and associated quality performers from the US complementing the local (Australian) performers including our favourite group, Bluegrass Parkway who hail from WA,

and whose talents were right up there with the best of the US visitors. Bluegrass Parkway and the extremely talented visiting groups from the USA, performed tirelessly throughout each of four days/nights without any performance fee whatsoever. What a refreshing change to see such talented people performing at such a high level simply for the love of it.

We rented a nice 3 bedroom house about 150 metres from the function centre,

with a really nice BBQ,

I wish,
and just 50 metres across the road from,

yes, you guessed right, "The Pub".

We had such a good time that we have booked the same house for 2009
and will extend our stay by a few days.

If you are interested, you can find out more about Australia’s premier Bluegrass music event, the 21st Annual Harrietville Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Convention, November 19th-22nd, 2009, held in the beautiful mountains of northern Victoria at one of the most glorious times of the year. www.bluegrass.org.au/index.cfm?pid=111174

POWER'S LOOKOUT
We stopped at Power's Lookout on the way to Harrietville and were pleased to see such a great recovery after the bush fires of a couple of years ago. If you haven't been to the Lookout, then it is well worth the short diversion from the main road shortly before
you get to Whitfield and the relatively easy short walk to the lookout.


Harry Power, (real name Henry Johnston) was born in Waterford, England, in 1819 and transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1841 for stealing shoes.
In 1848, he was granted a Ticket of Leave (having served seven years) and made his way to Sydney via Twofold Bay. After offending again, Harry Power received a second Ticket of Leave in March 1862 until his arrest at Beechworth in February 1864 for horse stealing for which he was found guilty and sentenced to another seven years at Pentridge Gaol. He escaped from Pentridge in February 1869 and became one of Victoria's most notorious and active bushrangers with a reward of two hundred pounds posted for his capture,
later increased to five hundred pounds.

By March 1870, Harry was noted to have a young apprentice who occasionally participated in the robberies but mainly just held the horses while Harry did the work. The young apprentice's name was Ned Kelly. Kelly was arrested in May 1870 and charged with assisting Power, however, the charge could not be
proved and Ned walked free.

On 05 July 1870, Power was tracked to his hideout (Power's Lookout), which was a gunyah in the bush where he was arrested and transferred to Beechworth, where he was tried on three counts of Robbery Under Arms and sentenced to fifteen years' gaol in Pentridge, five for each offence to be served cumulatively. The Magistrates also added another six months hard labour for his escape in 1869. He served the entire sentence and
was not released until February 1885, aged 66.
After his release, he was employed as a Guide on the old Prison Hulk SUCCESS which he had known so well as a convict, and which had been made into a floating museum of the convict days. Harry enjoyed considerably publicity in this position as people
flocked to see the old bushranger.

In 1891, the body of a man was dragged from the Murray River at Swan Hill. It was Harry Power. The Coroner found that death had been by drowning but there was nothing to show how he had entered the water. It is suspected he may have been overcome by alcohol
and toppled in. His final burial place is not known.

Leaving Whitfield we took the road to Cheshunt from where we detoured off the beaten track for what turned out to be around 35km of unmade roads
on the way to Lake Buffalo and Myrtleford.

Arrived home to find a brochure for the Mount Beauty Music Festival in the mail.
Lyn and I went to this Festival in 2006 and again in 2007 with Robyn and John
and are looking to go again in 2009.
The Mount Beauty Music Festival is held in late April, when Mount Beauty, Bright, Harrietville and surrounding High Country areas are generally at their autumn best.

If you are interested in attending or finding out a little more about next April's Music Festival, look up the Mount Beauty Music Festival website, www.musicmuster.org.au/