Karen Maloney's Dispatch: Daylesford Dispatch

Dear Friends,

It is a glorious day here in Daylesford, almost too hot for me, Bilbo and Frodo, as we seek out cool spots. I have closed all the day blinds downstairs but I can still see daffodils, wattles and yellow daisies, as well as Marjorie’s pink camellia, which is having a second flowering and is nearly touching the ground with the weight of its beautiful flowers. Wes mowed and weeded yesterday, so it all looks most attractive.

Among the many emails of support I received last week was a very helpful message from Caroline Storm who used to live opposite us at 75 Duke Street. She suggested I contact the Chronic Fatigue Association in Melbourne, which I have done and they have been most useful. We have put a new regime in place and the only hiccup has been an unwanted head cold, which has kept me in bed in the hope that it won’t turn into a chest cold. So far, so good.

< Gerard Lazzaro & Tom Tyrrell with Becky Christmas 1975 at Scott Street, Essendon

Last night Wes invited Barbara over to watch the game with him. It was an absolute stunner with so much pressure applied by both Carlton and West Coast. I suspect that the home ground advantage was the main difference between them and got the Weagles over the line, albeit by 3 points. Wes is very disappointed – he had expected to lose, but not after getting so close and having so many chances. When has Marc Murphy missed three easy shots for goal in a game before? When has Chris Judd put in such a shocker? Losing Bret Thornton early wasn’t helpful either. After the Blues had steamrolled Essendon last Sunday, we suspected it wouldn’t be easy.

I’ve been glued to the Davis Cup tennis while I’ve been in bed – can’t believe how well both Tomic & Hewitt have played. I suspect they have both benefitted from Pat Rafter’s input. As well there has been the 3^rd Test in Colombo which has featured another good innings by Shaun Marsh. I even had an occasional look at Australia being humiliated by Ireland last night in the Rugby Union World Cup.

Robert Preston’s mother, Roma, died last Sunday, and we were able to get out of a couple of Rotary commitments to go to the funeral, which was held at Joseph Allison in Essendon. Bobby gave his 4^th eulogy and his 5^th keynote speech (as far as we know) in just over a year and he saved the best for last. He really brought Roma to life, with some cameos of his father, Big Al, who died back in 1978. We were so pleased we went as it was a very small funeral, and both Heath and Callum are overseas and were unable to get back to support their parents.

We have decided to support our Rotary Art Show sponsors as much as we can, and are encouraging other Rotarians to do the same – so we have had lunch at both Gracenotes Café and the Farmers Arms this week. Our President, Jim Swatman, made an appointment with us to catch up on what had been happening while he has been unwell and recuperating and undertook to get some more sponsorships and to help with raffle ticket sales in Vincent Street. I don’t know yet how well our sellers went, but they put in two big days on Friday and Saturday. We gave them Brian’s painting so everyone could see what they might win.

Before I fell ill, I managed to go to Strong Classes, play Mah Jong with Carol & Valerie, have a well overdue manicure and pedicure with Michelle, and help Wes get a database and then send out invitations to Daylesford Rotary’s 58^th birthday, which occurs this Wednesday. It isn’t a special day, but it gives us a chance to get a database of our Past Members, so that we will be ready for 60^th Birthday Celebrations in 2013.

We hosted an excellent Arts Show committee meeting, where everyone is really putting in. Wes is with some of them this afternoon at the Rotary Shed in Victoria Park, where we are planning on spray painting our old and new screens in preparation for the Show next month. We’ll have to start meeting weekly soon as there is still lots of Admin to get done, but Wes and I are hoping to get as up to date as we can during this coming week, as we will be spending Grand Final week in Melbourne at the Stamford Plaza.

Our thoughts are with David and Jane Knox on hearing that David’s mother died yesterday, hours after seeing all her family. Also with John & Jan, who have a family crisis to deal with. Gillie is coming home on Tuesday and it will be lovely to see her again and to help in whatever way we can to smooth her path. I hope to be in touch with you next Sunday and to be excited as the Pies have beaten the Hawks and are in the Grand Final – we can only cross our fingers and hope for the best, although the Murrays will be praying that my wishes don’t come true.