# THE REDGUM HOLLOW GAZETTE ### Your Community. Your News. Our Best Guess. **Edition: Monday–Thursday, Week Two of the Season** *Est. whenever it was. Marge Holloway, Editor, Proprietor, and Principal Correspondent.* *Weather: Still nothing. The sky is a sheet of tin and the paddocks are quietly furious about it.* --- ## MYSTERY MAN PROVES HIMSELF WITH POSTS AND WIRE The new occupant at the Henderson place — known to this office only as Ray, and if anyone can clarify that, my door is open — has been observed at the fence line every morning since Monday, working alone and at a pace this district would call *respectable*. Several residents have noted his industry. One or two have used the word *encouraging*, which in Redgum Hollow means approximately the same as a standing ovation. Bruce Patterson confirms Ray sourced specialist fencing wire through the hardware, a transaction Bruce describes as characterising a *"professional approach."* Bruce and Ray are apparently on such good terms that Bruce mentioned this four times between Tuesday and Wednesday. We note it once, with decorum. Meanwhile, word has reached the Bicentenary planning committee — chaired with tremendous focus by Deb Forsythe, who tells this paper the festival will "absolutely put Redgum Hollow on the map it deserves to be on" — that Ray has offered his fencing labour to the cause. Deb confirms this contribution is *most welcome*. There is, as yet, no further information on Ray. **A parcel, we are told by Lorraine Apps** — who emphasises she is merely performing postal duties — arrived for Ray from Cairns, Queensland, earlier this week. This is the second Queensland-related development in a fortnight. This paper makes no accusations. This paper simply *counts*. --- ## SHOE ON A FENCE POST: Redgum Hollow WAITS A child's shoe appeared on a fence post at the Henderson boundary sometime before Wednesday morning. It is small. It is alone. It raises, as these things do, a number of questions. Priya Sharma was observed on her Wednesday walk slowing to regard it. She did not stop. She did not touch it. She continued walking, which, frankly, takes a certain kind of nerve. Theories held by this office: it fell from a passing vehicle; it was placed deliberately for reasons we cannot currently identify; or it belongs to the Queensland situation. We will update readers as events allow. --- ## ROYAL HOTEL OPERATING ON REDUCED CAPACITY; BRUCE SAYS IT'S FINE Two taps were offline at the Royal on Tuesday. Macca cited a supply issue. Bruce Patterson has confirmed this explanation. This newspaper also confirms it, having confirmed Bruce's confirmation. Everyone is relaxed. Nothing to see here. Have the tap that *is* working. --- ## LETTERS TO THE EDITOR **From Clarrie Burton, Henderson Road:** Marge, just a line to say the new fencer knows what he's doing. Saw the strainer posts from the road this morning. Mortised right. Most blokes don't bother. Someone taught that man properly, or he's been doing it a long time. Either way, the Henderson place is looking less sorry for itself. Thought you'd want to know. — *C. Burton* *[Ed. note: Clarrie Burton has forgotten more about fencing than most of us ever knew. If Clarrie approves, this paper approves. Filed accordingly.]* --- **From A Concerned Regular, Main Street:** Dear Gazette, some of us were at the Royal Tuesday and the situation with the taps was handled well and nobody made a fuss which is how it should be. Just thought that deserved a mention. — *Name withheld at contributor's request* --- ## AROUND THE DISTRICT - The bread situation at Lorraine's continues. Tash was seen Wednesday afternoon departing with full loaves still in hand. Day four or five by this reporter's count. The parties are tight-lipped. - Clarrie Burton was at the café Thursday — *inside*, at a table — which hasn't happened in recent memory. Tash refilled his cup twice. A long conversation by all accounts, unheard by anyone. Good for them both. - Steve-o's ute was noted outside the café Wednesday evening, lights still on inside after closing. Nothing is implied. A note has been made. - The football against Currawong Flats is Saturday. This paper expects the district to attend and behave accordingly. - Still no rain. --- *The Redgum Hollow Gazette is published when there is news, and sometimes when there isn't. Letters welcome. Corrections published with full theatrical regret.*