The big falla visits

One of my nephews is a fettler. His job has taken him out west for a while, and he stayed with me on the weekend, bringing good humour and some finely observed tales of country towns and life on the rails.

After he left, I had a look at the website of the Harden Shire Council. Every town likes to think it's lovely, and the site proudly boasts:

We would like to welcome visitors to the glorious Harden Shire, one of the most picturesque areas within the State. The region is notable for its scenic beauty - particularly during the spring when a wide variety of grain crops are in bloom. Combined with the green pastures and rolling hills, they provide a magnificent kaleidoscope of colour.

Not at the moment though, I guess. They desperately need rain.

On a page called About the council there are 3 short paragraphs. The first describes how the inaugural meeting of the Harden Shire Council took place in 1974. Then this:

The amalgamation of the Murrumburrah Municipal Council and the Shire of Demondrille was a marriage of convenience entered into to avoid an arrangement imposed by the New South Wales Govenment and repugnant to ratepayers.

They've clearly got long memories in Harden-Murrumburrah.