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As we drove from Griffith, the huge paddocks continued as far as the eye could see - under cultivation and ready for wheat planting. Each town had the inevitable big silo and the spilt grain on the road brings all manner of birds - flocks of galahs, corellas, and rosellas that take to the air in a colourful cloud as we drive towards them.
Small hills appeared, changing the flat landscape we’d had for a few days. We had lunch at Narrandera by the river, then decided to turn off the highway to have a look at Ariah Park - the sign
‘town of Bowsers, Wowsers and Pepper Trees’ had us intrigued. The main street was indeed lined with pepper trees and there were quite a few old petrol bowsers dotted along the footpaths. I suppose the ‘wowsers’ don't approve of the advertised upcoming B&S ball, those formally dressed but often wild evenings for country 'Bachelor and Spinsters'.
On then to Temora for the night. As we left town in the morning, we passed Temora Airport and Doug remarked we should have gone to the Temora Air Museum there. We 'did a Uey' and went back. The surprise was
around the airport, they were selling home and hanger packages for people with planes - nice new homes with large hangers in their backyards which faced their runway to the main airport.
Temora was a big air force training base in World War 2 on the area that’s now the airport and museum. The museum was excellent and a much bigger production than I thought it would be. David Lowy, Westfield’s Frank Lowy’s son, was the brains and money behind it. We were first shown a movie of the different planes as they looked flying in the war and a history behind them all. Then we were taken to a big hanger where the planes were kept – Spitfires, Boomerangs, Hurricanes, Canberra Bombers, Tiger Moths .. those that had seen service in WW2, Korea and Vietnam.
There was a second hanger where planes were being repaired and we were able to view that from a room upstairs. The museum holds regular airshows with these old planes, so they must be in tip top condition. It was a great morning and we enjoyed the tour very much.
Lunch was at West Wyalong and then onto Forbes for the
night. Forbes is a former gold mining town, (but of course) situated along the Lachlan River, in the heart of the Lachlan Valley and the centre of one of the richest primary producing areas of the state. Ben Hall the bushranger, was killed by police just out of Forbes and is buried in Forbes Cemetery. His great grandson, Ben Hall Third commissioned the sculpture of Ben which stands outside the Forbes Visitors Centre .. another criminal given hero status!
We like being out here in the west where the views are wide, but it's still a bit chilly .. not quite as cold as Victoria though!
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