Hoover Dam

THE WIDER VIEW: Taking shape, the new bridge at the Hoover Dam

When i started traveling back in 2001 I called in on my family in California. My Nephew , Paul had much pleasure in opening my eyes wide with a trip out to LAS VAGAS. My experience of the Strip and staying in a 7 Star Hotel is a story in itself . However while we were out in Nevada we visited the HOOVER DAM the massive construction depicted poorly in the above photo.

The main road crosses the dam and Zigs and Zags up the other side to the right. Being in the passenger seat I could take photos as we crossed but to get the full grandeur of the site I needed to extricate myself from the vehicle and move to the best photo spots as a pedestrian . Paul dropped me off and drove on to where he could turn, return and endeavoured to locate me again.

Traffic across the dam is BOTTLE NECK, slow moving as each end every one wants to take in the sights as they traverse the dam wall. This news item that was forwarded this morning bought back the memories of the visit and demonstrates the problem solving approach in Nevada.

Creeping closer inch by inch – 900ft above the mighty Colorado River – the two sides of a $240million bridge at the Hoover Dam in America slowly take shape. The bridge will carry a new section of US Route 93 past the bottleneck of the old road which can be seen twisting and winding around and across the dam itself. When complete, it will provide a new link between the states of Nevada and Arizona . In an incredible feat of engineering, the road will be supported on the two massive concrete arches which jut out of the rock face. The arches are made up of 53 individual sections – each 24ft long – which have been cast on-site and are being lifted into place using an improvised high-wire crane strung between temporary steel pylons.

The arches will eventually measure more than 1,000ft across. At the moment, the structure looks like a traditional suspension bridge. But once the arches are complete, the suspending cables on each side will be removed. Extra vertical columns will then be installed on the arches to carry the road. The bridge has become known as the Hoover Dam bypass, although it is officially called the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, after a former governor of Nevada and an American Football player from Arizona who joined the US Army and was killed in Afghanistan. Work on the bridge started in 2005 and should finish next year. An estimated 17,000 cars and trucks will cross it every day.

The dam was started in 1931 and used enough concrete to build a road from New York to San Francisco . The stretch of water it created, Lake Mead , is 110 miles long and took six years to fill. The original road was opened at the same time as the famous dam in 1936.

I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT

WW NSW Mens Shed

Men Shed Wagga Wagga

My mission today was to meet the blokes at the Wagga wagga MENS SHED . Their location is under the grandstand of the old wagga Leagues club. This is their temporary spot until a bigger warehouse becomes available in the near future

I was made welcome and introduced to the men attending today . Today's program included a singing lesson . I sat in, the electronic organ, clarinet and drums accompanied us through war time songs, aussie ballet along with songs like Cabaret and Mack the Knife . I did enjoy my couple of hours with the boys.

Wagga Waggga Menshed has in excess of 165 Members from all walks of life . Each brings to the collective their own skills and interests. They have a program which allows members to choose which days they plan to attend . Tomorrow was woodworking. Lathes , Planners , saws presses , workbenches fill the room . They are pushed for room at present and look forward to the new warehouse becoming available soon.

There’s nothing new about men gathering together in their own space to talk, share skills, swap ideas, solve problems or just discuss life in general – it’s been happening since the beginning of time. There’s nothing new either about men spending time in their backyard shed – an acknowledged Aussie pastime. What is new is that men, particularly retired men, are combining these two activities in a communal space simply called a "Men’s Shed".

What is also new is how strongly men have embraced this new identity – being a member of a Men’s Shed. Men’s Sheds, as such, are a peculiarly Australian phenomenon. In the past decade a wide range of community-based Men’s Sheds has sprung up - each with its own unique identity and purpose.

Activities within sheds are many and various: woodwork, metal work, restoration of old cars, community projects, portable’ sheds taken to Alzheimer facilities or mobile sheds for remote country areas. The membership is diverse too. Men of all ages from all backgrounds, ethnic and social mixes can enjoy a Men’s Shed, bringing their unique cultural characteristics to enliven the activities.

The common theme in all Sheds is about men feeling useful and contributing again to their communities, learning or sharing their skills, making friends, networking and availing themselves of health information programmes and opportunities. Men’s Sheds are under the auspices of a variety of organisations whose ethos they tend to exemplify.

Communities are keen to provide activity, identity and meaning for vast numbers of older, unemployed, job-redundant, ‘downsized’, isolated, depressed and happily retired, active, creative, enthusiastic men. Men’s Sheds are fast being recognized as vital, viable places to fulfill these needs and provide relaxed, happy creative spaces for men to enjoy.

Mensheds Australia’s Vision:

Every community in Australia will have a men’s shed.

• To address the issues of men’s health (physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being) in the community.
• To engage men of all ages, differently-abled, youth, veterans and other groups of men of the communities in regional, rural, remote and urban areas;
• To support the social interaction of men in transitional periods (e.g. Redundancy, Bereavement, Retirement, Ill Health, Relocation, Divorce, Respite Care) in a non-exclusive, non-judgemental way;
• To share, disseminate and preserve the skills, abilities and interests that are relevant to the community.

Our Mission is:

• To provide the skill, expertise and resources to any community group to enable it to establish, effectively operate and build a sustainable men’s shed.
• To facilitate links between men and health-related agencies, family organisations and specialist health professionals within the community.
• To generate opportunities, creating jobs and economic activity for the community.
• To advocate and build partnerships between men’s sheds and the community.
• To demonstrate to men’s sheds how their operation can be cost neutral, that is, that its ongoing costs can be met or exceeded by its revenue.
• To initiate and disseminate research on topics of particular relevance to men and their men’s shed.
• To provide a strong national voice on men’s issues and men’s sheds.

In Pursuing our Vision, We Commit to the Following Values:

• Compassion and empathy in serving men in all communities,
• Sincerity and devotion to improving of men’s health,
• Honesty and integrity in all our activities,
• Reliability and trustworthiness in delivering on our promises,
• Responsiveness to the needs of men, their families and their communities,
• Wisdom in applying technology and innovation,
• Respect for the value added by teamwork and participation to life-long learning,
• Appreciation of the value of contributions by partners and sponsors,
• Responsibility and generosity in giving back to the community.

What is the best thing about Mensheds?

It’s beyond what you can buy!

I wonder what will happen next !!!

Mulga Bill Visits Wagga Wagga

If you were to utilise Google Earth and look down on the intersection of Blamey and Heath St, Wagga Wagga, you will see the old surveyors got their plans drastically wrong. Not that i can attribute my near miss to their error rather its an effort to set the scene. Blamey St has a slight dogleg, a traffic islands has been installed to help traffic negotiate this surveying anomaly

I live futher up on a hill on Mitchelmore Street. When I arrived in wagga 2 months ago, I bought a new bike from Big W. Made in China , light framed, hard wheeled, 21 gear, racing bike. Cheap bit of rubbish that I ride carefully around the streets trying to avoid any sharps or culverts. The gear shift is very flimsy and awkward to manage. I commence my ride from the street, point the bike down hill , hit high gear and power off . I was up to full speed as fast as i could peddle as approached the intersection . The road was wet from the recent rain and I was starting to feel water flicked off the front wheel on my face and up my back.

At the intersection I looked to the right right, all clear . I then my gaze to the left and to my horror I spotted a white toyota coming fast. I moved quickly towards my brakes and applied pressure. Nothing seemed to respond, my forward momentum was not slowed one iota. Decision time, do or die . Two options flicked into my mind .. . slow and hit the vehicle or power up and hope I just may get through.

The second option seemed to take effect automatically . The ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ of car tyres on wet tar seal met my ears as I powered towards my escape route . I allowed my peripheral vision to check the cars progress as I kept my focus on my objective. The white bonnet and bumper bar loomed closer and slipped just past my back wheel . The car horn sounded as if to say " You Bastard, I had the right away"

I raised my right hand in salute to the driver and continued at full speed on my way down the hill towards work . I expected him or her , ( I never did see the whites of the drivers eyes ) to come round the block and engage in dialogue.

MULGA BILL'S BICYCLE by A.B. "Banjo" Paterson

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze;
He turned away the good old horse that served him many days;
He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen;
He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine;
And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride,
The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?"


"See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea,
From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me.
I'm good all round at everything as everybody knows,
Although I'm not the one to talk - I hate a man that blows.
But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight;
Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight.
There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel,
There's nothing walks or jumps, or runs, on axle, hoof, or wheel,
But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight:
I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight."


'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode,
That perched above Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road.
He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray,
But 'ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away.
It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver steak,
It whistled down the awful slope towards the Dead Man's Creek.


It shaved a stump by half an inch, it dodged a big white-box:
The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks,
The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground,
As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound.
It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree,
It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be;
And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek
It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dean Man's Creek.


'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore:
He said, "I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before;
I've rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five-pound bet,
But this was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet.
I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; it's shaken all my nerve
To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve.
It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek, we'll leave it lying still;
A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill."

Africa Trip PART 1 Nov 08

Trip to Africa with my brother Keith and daughter Rachel

From Christchurch it was a 3 hr flight across to Sydney. We were excited as this was the shake down flight for the 14 hrs from Sydney to Johannesburg South Africa. I'm a map reader and had expected to fly across Aussie exiting somewhere over Perth and was a touch confused when in in flight video screen showed our path exiting Aussie to the south over Tasmania . We settled into the flight with a solid meal and made ourselves as comfortable as you can in the confines of cattle class. 7 hrs into the flight i looked out the window and seen ice burgs floating in the sea. My first thoughts were 'I'm on the wrong flight'. On checking the video screen i could reconcile that the shortest line between the two cites is to dip way south taking in the spectacular sights if floating ice

Our destination was Malawi . Why? Well Rachel, my daughter, had spent 7 mths there back in 2004. She had traveled the National Parks of Malawi and was familiar with the culture . She spoke very highly of the country and the network of friends she had developed in the country. Keith my brother had the idea that he would like to see the wild animals of Africa, I love to travel so the seeds of out Safari were born.

Our friends in Malawi has arranged a 'Personal Guide' to help easy our passage in Malawi. Unfortunately he had met with an accident and scaled him self with boiling oil . It was too risky to go traveling with fresh burns . Rachel had the confidence and we decided to venture out into Africa on our own. Our base was Dougals Hostel in Blantyre. A Chalet out the back, a Pool out front and a bar in between . A great place to get over Jet lag.

Blantyre kept us amused for the first few days . Markets , Transport , meeting old friends , relaxing and planning our Northward adventure. The Bus station for the north is nearby. This gave us a false sense of security. Honking and Blaring of the Horns indicated that the Bus was near full and departure was imminent . We strolled over at 0700 only to be told the Bus had gone and no more until tomorrow . This seemed to be bullshit as there was an array of buses with Monkey bay displayed inside the screen . I approached the blokes standing around the Bus who reassured that the bus would be going to our desired destination but had to wait until sufficient numbers were on board before it took off . So began our wait .

Two hours latter our decrepit bus lurched off, The Clutch was stuffed , the battery stuffed the seats stuffed the whole bus was stuffed . I'm sure it had done in excess of a million miles even before being pensioned off to operate in Malawi. Stop overs at the main centres seemed to be an integral part of the Business plan . New Customers were sought . Thios bus line mopped up after the main bus companies had passed through. Livestock i.e Goats and and poultry were common sights in the seats around us . Lounge suits tied to the roof and traders attempting to sell their wares through the windows of the bus to sweltering passengers

Lewis Tuck Playing with the rainbow

Lewis Tuck playing in the Sky

I asked my nephew Lewis Tuck to elaborate on this photo

Well it is me working for Prism Helicopters, a company based out of Pitt Meadows BC, Canada.

We worked all over Canada and Alaska. This particular job was an on going contract for Logan Resources, drilling for gold in the mountains 6000ft above the Yukon river a bit south of the Arctic Circle and slightly north of Dawson City.

The land of the mid night sun, this was late in the evening after a thunder storm had come through . The rainbows had come out spectacularly in the post rain atmosphere.

Another Pilot, who I was relieving, LEGEND Johnny Harrie snapped the picture at the right moment just when I was coming into hook up a load

20th July 07 . Regards Lew....

I wonder what will happen next !!

Hereford Calves, Wagga Wagga, NSW

On Rushdon Farm there is a small herd of Herefords . The farm has been de-stocked over the last year due to the drought. The breeding herd of Herefords have done it hard during the drought and now have turned the corner and putting on weight with new spring growth. They are filling out and ready to calf . Calving has started, the few early calves relish their new environment running around the edge of the dam and sprinting to and from their mothers .

It surprised me how well mother can hide the newborn calves . Her furtive glance across the paddock in the general direction of where she has deposited the calf is the give away. Once we moved towards the hidden calf she would come in hot pursuit.

Cows that are due to calf give several signs of pending birth that are watched out for. Some isolate away from the herd, a definite give away, the udder bulks up,the vulva swells and the tail often hangs out from the body. When the birth is imminent, a pre birth bag filled with amniotic dangles and flaps about from the rear end. Three of the Herefords exhibited these signs during our inspection . Given the cows were 'Proven Breeders' ie have had several calves there was little need to check on their well being until the next day.

The Heifers require extra vigilance. They are generally smaller in statue and there is a higher risk of birthing difficulty. Farmers keep these young breeders seperate as they need to keep a close eye on these animals and are often required to assist. When birthing it is important to ensure the head and feet of the calf is in the correct position. The best position is head first with feet up near the head . Sometimes the head will be back too far or the legs are back. Internal manipulations is required to facilitate the birth. Calving ropes are put onto the calf's legs and gradually pulled with each labour to assist the birth.

Vets are generally called in for more difficult births they may opt for a Cesarean Section to extricate the calf. The Cows generally heal well and can go on to have many more calves into the future having had a C Section

I wonder what will happen Next !!

OLD MAN EMU

Wagga Wagga is the biggest inland City in NSW . The two military bases and Charles Sturt University are big contributors to the Economy . Wagga is established on the Murrumbidgee River and part of an area called the Riverina

The Sydney Melbourne Railway line runs through Wagga which is half way between both cities . A feeder line also head further west from here making this an ideal location for industries to establish . The Hume highway between Sydney and Melbourne is a further 30 Km to the east

Most of Australia is experiencing a 7 year drought. Recent rains in June have encouraged farmers to sow crops of Wheat and Oates. I have visited a farm further out west while shearing and calving is in progress. The land looks a picture at present with green lush paddocks and new lambs and calves being born. It wonderful to see the young calves, fearless and full of fun, in the spring heat of the day. Let hope for more rain that will fill the dams and replenish the rivers and streams

Im in Wagga Wagga for another 6 weeks before heading back to New Zealand.

I wonder what will happen next !!

Shearing Sheep Near Wagga Wagga

Shearing time on any farm is a massive process and generally occurs once a year. The timing of shearing differs throughout the country depending on the management practices adopted to maximise returns . On Rushdon near Wagga Wagga the sheep are peeled in July towards the end of winter. Their lambs have been removed drenched for internal parasites and turned out on new spring growth. The ewes having survived the drought and reared the lambs now have a chance to recuperate with their wool removed, put on weight again ready for mating time the next exciting time in their life.

The sheep need to be organised on the farm to be nearby to the shearing shed prior to being penned up over night. Mobs of approximately 350 fully grown ewes are moved towards the holding paddocks which enables them to be 'EMPTIED OUT' which in other words is taken off grazing for 24 hrs . The main purpose of this 'emptying out' is to avoid contamination of the fleece which can occur if sheep are penned up closely.

Penning up occurs the night before shearing and is the last task of the day. If it were to rain then at least there would be a full shed full for the shearing gang to process and allow for any wet sheep to dry out before shearing. Two shearers are engaged on Rushdon . This enables approximately 300 / 320 sheep to be shorn each day. To handle the wool to the correct standard this requires a team approach . On this farm it is a family affair.

Wendy has returned from uni to help out. Her role is that of rouse-about. Keeping the catch pens full , removing the Bellies and Top Knots from the shearing floor along with clearing and throwing the fleece to the Skirting Table at the completion of each sheep shorn. Her role requires diligence and watching for opportunity's to remove soiled wool or dags as part of the process of maintaining a quality end product.

Josh, has the role of general shed hand. He skirts one side of the fleece, removing soiled wool along the under side of the fleece. He looks for short wool that grows along the neck of the ewe, Heavily stained from sweat and oil or sand impregnated wool. Burrs and sticks stuck in the wool are pulled clear to ensure the final fleece is prepared for Johns final inspection . Josh also has the role of baling up with the hydraulic wool press .

John is the master of ceremonies. He maintains an oversight of the whole operation. His main role in the shed is Wool Classing. He assesses the fleece ensuring the Quality and strength meet the uniform gradings of AAA or AAAm . The micron measurement of the wool is generally 18 to 19 . John runs a line if 1800 BOND breeding ewes. This type of sheep has been breed in the area and do well in the local conditions. The sheep are bigger build than Merinos and smaller the Boarder Lester . The points ie Legs and Head are clear of wool and made better by the removal of extraneous skin tags around the tail end when they are lambs., Muesling.

Some sheep have done it hard in the last few months of the drought, rearing a lamb is a big drain on a ewe some becoming sick due to mastitis or general starvation. This can cause a 'Break' in the wool which needs to be graded down to an inferior quality.

Janet has a very important role, food and drink. Shearing is done to the clock. The shearer work in two hour runs, 7am to 10am with a 30 minute break for morning tea a further run to Lunch . Janet has to be well organised to have the food and drinks available on these times. The BBQ is struck up at Midday. Steak, sausages and chops are available which is complimented with salads, bread , fruit, and tea or coffee.

The shearer take an opportunity to replenish their handpieces during the breaks. Combs and cutters are replaced and a spare hand piece is made ready for emergencies if and when the cutting edge becomes dull or broken . Wool contains natural oil which builds up in the combs. This is scrapped off in readiness for resharpening after the days work is completed.

Josh keeps an eye on the fleeces being stuffed into the hydraulic wool press. The unit has a built in weight scale to ensure the total weight remains under 200 Kgs. Wool packs have four large flaps that are secured with special staple clips for when the bale is released from the press. Of course the bale needs to be correctly identified with the property name, the assessed quality of the wool and the wool classers personal identity number stamped on the label.

At the end of the shearing the work doesn't stop . Sheep have to be returned to pasture asap as they haven't eaten or had a drink for up to 24 hrs. This can take a while with the destination paddock being about 4 kms away. When they got to the paddock of young fresh oates they soon filled their bellies with fodder and water from the dam. They stand out boldly with their gleaming white outline against a rolling 200 acre paddock of green oates.

The team effort continues as the next days sheep needed to be shed-ed up, a slow process as the ewes seem to be aware of their pending shearing. They resist entering a dark shed especially with the noise of their hooves on battens on the floor which allow the shit to fall directly to the ground. The dogs, black and tan Kelpies, seem to relish the challenge jumping up on the back of the sheep to move them on towards the back of the internal pens.

The days workload starts to slow down with a shared family evening meal back at the homestead. Even then, logistics and stratagies are reviewed and developed .

I did enjoy my day with the Schiermers on Rushdown. I was able to record some of the events on video to help remind me of my day out shearing.

I wonder what will happen next !!