RAY CONNELLY BRINGS THE PAPER: THE DIRECTION OF INFORMATION REVERSES

This column has tracked the bench at Clarrie Burton's place with what some might call disproportionate attention. Those people may leave at any time.

What has previously transpired: Clarrie imparts; Ray receives. This is understood. This is the arrangement. Wednesday morning, it reversed. Ray Connelly arrived at the bench with a piece of paper, and Clarrie Burton read it.

The town has had four days to process this and has managed, collectively, to produce only the phrase something to do with the property — which, while not wrong, is doing about as much work as a man trying to move a header with a shovel.

This office's considered view: Ray has reached a threshold. The Whitmore & Associates parcels from Cairns, the bore letters to Shelley at Landcare, the walking of boundaries already documented in Edition 21 — these are not the habits of a man browsing. They are the habits of a man arriving at something. Whether that something is a decision, a plan, or a complication this paper has not yet identified, I cannot say with certainty.

I will say it anyway: Ray Connelly brought something to Clarrie Burton because he needed it witnessed. Not explained. Witnessed. There is a difference and Clarrie would know it.

He was not at the pub Saturday evening. Man keeps his own hours is the current formulation. The town has warmed to it. I find I have not entirely.

BRUCE PATTERSON DELIVERS THE DOCUMENT: DEB FORSYTHE SAYS FOUR WORDS

She said useful. That is the core transmission. Those four words have now been repeated in this district with more frequency and tonal variation than anything broadcast on regional radio in living memory.

Bruce Patterson, who this paper has watched move from bench-fixer to peripheral figure to man-with-a-purpose, placed a document on the table at Saturday's planning session. Fencing. Narrabri Steel. A contact, presumably reliable, presumably his. Deb Forsythe reviewed it and said: this is useful, Bruce.

The session ran two hours and ten minutes, not the scheduled ninety. Priya Sharma was present for all of it. She came for the soup and stayed for the meeting is the café version by Sunday, which is charming and almost certainly incomplete.

What is not charming and not incomplete: Deb Forsythe and Priya Sharma stood outside the Royal in the cold after the session and spoke at length. Helen Watts witnessed it while leaving. Not just goodbye is the observation. In this town, standing in the cold voluntarily is a statement of intent.

The Bicentenary Festival has now collected a doctor, a fencing contact, a Narrabri Steel connection, and two hours and ten minutes of a Saturday. It is becoming something. Deb has been right about these things before and I have been obligated to print that she was right. I am noting it now, in advance, for efficiency.

TASH: EIGHT ROLLS, GONE BEFORE TEN-FORTY

She's not stopping. The district's formulation. Also, at this point, the only formulation required. Thursday and Friday, cleared before eleven. Friday specifically: eight rolls, gone before ten-forty.

Lorraine Apps has said nothing. This has been noted by more people than will admit it, including me, in print, again.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From Gary Nolan, western catchment:
Marge — I was in town Tuesday and Thursday, yes. I'm aware this has been filed somewhere. Nothing wrong. Just needed to move around a bit. The drought does something to a man if he stays put too long. Don't make it more than it is. — G. Nolan

(Ed. note: Gary, I appreciate the letter. I will make of it exactly what I like.)

From Steve Mitchell (Steve-o):
Just wanted to say training's been good. Keith's got me in forward pocket which suits. That's all. — Steve-o

(Ed. note: That is not all, Steve, and we both know it. But noted.)

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Weather: Still no rain. The cold continues without apology.

Des Hartley nodded at Dr Priya Sharma across the pub Saturday evening. Macca saw it. In this district, Des's nod is the informal equivalent of a formal endorsement. Dr Sharma may not be aware of this. She is now aware.

Gary Nolan was in town twice this week. Tuesday and Thursday. He has written to explain this was nothing. Three people had already filed it under drought is doing something. The filing stands.

Keith's rotation has Steve-o in forward pocket. Four people saw it at Tuesday training. Keith's building around him now is the Sunday version. Keith has not commented. Keith rarely does. This is why Keith is Keith.

The fuel prices at the servo continue upward. This is not news. It is a condition.

— M. Holloway, Editor, Proprietor, and at this point probably the bench's unofficial stenographer.