# THE REDGUM HOLLOW GAZETTE **Serving the district since before the bypass was even a rumour** *Edition: Edition 12 — Monday to Thursday* Est. by persons now deceased. Edited by M. Holloway, who is not. *Weather: Still nothing. The sky has the look of a man who owes you money and knows it.* --- ## CLARRIE BURTON SPEAKS. TOWN LISTENS. MARGE, AS USUAL, STANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. Wednesday morning, outside the newsagent, Clarrie Burton said something to this editor. What he said is between Clarrie and this editor, and will remain so for as long as seems appropriate, which may be some time. What this paper will report — because the town already knows it and the town is not known for patience — is that *Clarrie initiated it.* He walked across. He spoke first. Bev Carmichael's assessment, delivered before the kettle had finished boiling: *"He's decided something."* Bev is not wrong. She is frequently approximately right, which in this district passes for journalism. This edition makes no further comment. But Clarrie Burton does not cross a street without reason, and he has not crossed one toward this editor in some years, and the significance of that is left to the reader as an exercise. --- ## RAY CONNELLY: A MAN MOVING DIRT IN A DROUGHT There are two kinds of people in this district. Those who do practical things, and those who dig up the east paddock of the Henderson place in the fourth consecutive week of no rainfall and no forecast. Ray Connelly, formerly of Queensland, cash buyer, man of few words at the co-op counter and fewer words everywhere else — is currently the second kind, apparently. A passing motorist on Wednesday reported what appeared to be "garden preparation" on the east side of the Henderson property, and the town's response has been a mixture of scepticism and something this editor can only describe as reluctant respect, of the sort we normally reserve for people who swim against a rip and reach the shore. Shelley Poidevin at Landcare was overheard mentioning "the old channel system on the Henderson place" on a telephone call outside her office — which, combined with previously reported bore testing correspondence, now suggests Mr Connelly is not merely digging for the sake of it. He appears to be resurrecting something. In this heat. During this drought. Practical man, not a talker, they're saying. This paper notes: the two are not always the same thing. But we are watching. We always are. --- ## FESTIVAL WATER EXEMPTION: THE CLOCK TICKS AUDIBLY The two-to-three-week processing window on Deb Forsythe's water exemption application — required for the Bicentenary Festival — has escaped the CWA sub-meeting and is now in general circulation. People are quietly asking whether the festival can proceed without it. This paper puts the word *quietly* in italics because nothing in Redgum Hollow is quiet, least of all concern about a two-hundred-year celebration being derailed by bureaucratic timing. Deb has not yet made a public statement. This is noted without commentary. The festival's reputation is Deb's reputation, and Deb's reputation is not something she leaves undefended. The silence is presumably strategic. *Presumably.* --- ## LETTERS TO THE EDITOR **From Margaret Elphick, Kurrajong Lane:** *Dear Marge — My son is doing something brave. I won't say more than that, because it's his to say. But I wanted it on the record somewhere that a mother knows.* *— M.E.* **From Trevor (no surname given, Marge knows who):** *Re: Tash's bread. Can you please find out what time Tuesdays. My knees aren't what they were and I'd rather not make a wasted trip. Lorraine won't tell me.* *— T.* *(Editor's note: Before ten o'clock, Trevor. You didn't hear it from me.)* --- ## AROUND THE DISTRICT **Steve-o was in the pub at midday Tuesday.** Didn't drink. Left in five minutes. This town knows what that means. We are waiting. **Alan Reeves was at the school fete planning table Tuesday.** Several people have noted Marge's proximity. Marge has noted their noting. We shall all move on. **Tash's sourdough is selling out fast.** The Tuesday and Friday runs continue. Set your alarm. **The Royal Hotel is open.** Go and use it, would you. **Fuel prices at the servo: still rising.** Fill up when you can. --- *The Gazette is printed whenever it needs to be. Advertising enquiries: don't bother, just buy Marge a coffee.*