Hello all,

Cold as charity but the roads are drying out nicely and I’m sure you are all able to make your various destinations by now.

The “calendar of events” is rather small this week, with the big event being the Milparinka week end. I’m sure it would have been a great success with fine weather, and I’m sure plenty of campfires!

We had the end of an era this weekend in Wilcannia when we handed Miss Barrett’s Coffee Shop over to Julie Murphy from Bourke. She had her first bus load in yesterday for afternoon tea and did an excellent job. So be sure to drop in and meet Julie and enjoy her new style of coffee shop. And thanks heaps to all of you who dropped in and supported Chris and I over the years.

Coming up: We have the Community Markets in Broken Hill next Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM if you are anywhere about.

Ducking up to White Cliffs, we have the Opal Festival taking place the following weekend the 17^th. to 19^th. a full weekend there and plenty to do.

The Picnic Train is running, again in Broken Hill. This is on Sunday 19^th. if you’re not in White Cliffs.  Have to be a fun day to be at.

Then staying in Broken hill again! They have the Inland Tourism Awards taking place the next weekend. So all roads lead to “The Hill” on the 25^th. And I believe our Warrawong on the Darling Caravan Park is in the running, how good is that??

Meanwhile, while all this is going on the school kids in Menindee are serving up afternoon tea at the Beyond Cafe every Sunday afternoon during July, so if you’re within a bull’s roar of the town, duck in and patronise them, home cooked goodies!

Anyone going up over the border, I have attached the “Quilpie Tourist Information Centre” programme for you. Lot going on up there and seems like a great place to call on.

I’m going to have to call on you all to tickle the keyboard for me if you have any events of interest to our travellers so I can let them know what’s doing. Would love to hear from you.

The other great place to hear the latest of course is our fabulous radio stations: ABC Broken Hill 999, out of Wilcannia on 1584. ABC Western Plains 657. Outback Radio 2WEB 585. And Wilcannia River Radio FM 103.1. If they don’t tell it, it’s just not happening!!

No rain forecast this week so happy travelling, look out for your mate, and stop and say “G’day to the Swagie if you’re travelling between Wilcannia and Cobar. He’s out there somewhere, stop and have a yarn to him, really nice bloke. Till next week, Bill Elliott  WCTA.

“You know, we owe a lot to Thomas Edison. If it were not for him, we’d be watching TV by candlelight.”