Party time and Bendigo Days 6-8

As anticipated, Aunty Doreen’s party went off like a robber's dog. Quality finger food combined with a couple of red hot numbers sung by a personal friend kept spirits high. I think there must be a song by Olivia Newton-John to match the sentiment of any occasion. All the talk was footy. I was able to keep face with an acceptable allegiance to Geelong due to my Grandee’s heritage in the area. A couple big Cats fans proudly revealed their premiership tattoos. I even polished off a VB to blend in.

Monday morning we parted company with Len and Sue and set off for Bendigo. This is the place of Lissa’s first 8 years and the current home of 2 of her Aunties. It’s a big town. Somewhere around 100000 country bumkins line-dance around this town. When we arrived in “Maiden Gully” I was expecting to see evidence of a Channel 7 camera crew, filming a TV drama. Alas we found a modest camping ground with a view of 2 emus fenced across the road. It suited real purpose for our visit, reliving the childhood of Lissa. First though, was the Op shops.

It had been over 20 years since Lissa had seen Aunty Lily. She lives with her husband Alan on a few acres at Eaglehawk. 

There is enough room for the greyhounds which they race all over Victoria. 

While the Ladies talked, the kids were captivated by the pet Cockatoo whose vocabulary included: “Hello Stupid”, “Wanna Drink” and “I ain’t been swearin”. You’d have to be pretty stiff not to enjoy the response when you say “Dance Cocky Dance”. 

Alan remembers being scolded for trying to give a young Lissa a few coins. 

I would have let him, but he didn’t offer this time.

Next stop was Woodstock on Loddon, to investigate where Lissa grew up. It is an expanse of dry pebbly fields, old windmills and stone houses. Not much changes in the country so we relied on the eyes of an 8 year old Lissa to guide us there. Peppercorn trees surround the house and pottery workshop. It’s been 27 years but the stone fence and windmill remain. Further down the road, the little primary school is no more.
 

A big day was capped off by a visit to see Aunty Liz. The youngest of her Dad’s siblings, Lissa has a real soft spot for Aunty Liz. She has many memories of looking after a little Lissa in the pre and primary school years. She also has stories about Gran and Pa. Apparently Gran would speak of her boys emotional behaviour in the pre-teen years: “He’s just feelin his oats”. There are plenty of oats around us at the moment.

Our family detour now over, we will head north west in the direction of Alice Springs, stopping in the Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy and (of course) Uluru.