Po’Manda’s Diary or Peripatetic Po’Manda’s Perpetual Perambulations: Extracts from the Dairy of a Wandering Weir.
Hi from Po’Manda, the model of the proposed Wellington Weir!
I have had a number of adventures in the past few months, beginning back on a wet (!) Saturday in early July, when our abode was invaded by a TV crew from Foxtel’s Weather Channel. Of course, they hadn’t come to see me, rather to interview John and Liz for a documentary exploring the changes in the Lakes over the years and the effect the current emergency was having on long established local families. I was leaning seductively in the corner as they all burst in with their lights and booms and microphones and cameras. It wasn’t long before my natural charisma commanded attention, and in all modesty I have to say I stole the show! These people were from Sydney and had no idea about the windblown surges of water from Lake Alexandrina sloshing up and down the River, acting as the River’s Lungs. Nor did they appreciate, until they saw my pebble-covered weir wall blocking the River channel, how all the salinity and accumulating nutrients will be trapped behind it. There’s nothing like a curvaceous 3-D model they can touch to tell the story (even if I do say so myself!).
Then on 18th July, I travelled in the back of Anne Hartnett’s ute to meet a group of Green Corps kids on the lake shore reserve next to Pym and Jill’s. This was particularly exciting, as my usual gigs are indoors and this time we were out under the sky and clouds.
On the August 24th, I attended the Strathalbyn Town Hall during the “Meet the Candidates” afternoon, where locals had the opportunity to ask seven of the candidates for the Mayo By-election questions about the current crisis in the Murray and Lakes. I was a little miffed to be relegated to the back of the hall while all the action seemed to be happening down the front. (I always thought the action was at the back). I had strict instructions to remain politically neutral - my role was purely educational - but I took secret pleasure in the sight of Di Bell’s support team wearing shirts and T-shirts in the same irresistible clear rich aqua as my middle contours (-1.75 to -3.0 m AHD). Of course in the end, my true star quality shone through. A rush of visitors abandoned those on stage and crowded around, caressing my satiny river curves and co-incidentally picking up pamphlets on Over-Allocation, The River’s Lungs and Terry’s excellent book A Fresh History Of The Lakes.
I then travelled to Murray Bridge to attend the two-day On-Tap Water Expo on 5th and 6th September arranged by the charming Kathryn Rothe of the Mannum to Wellington LAP. Again in all modesty, I can’t seem to help it, I attracted a plethora of gropers and strokers who couldn’t resist my curves. They asked questions. They emitted amazed sounds of enlightenment. They left as changed people.
On 15th Sept, I visited the Big Smoke. It’s not the first time I’ve been down there, last year I attended the ACF Conference in May. This time I accompanied Anne Hartnett to Prince Alfred College, to address a group of ten year-old students doing a project on Locks and Weirs. I had an extended ten day holiday in the College, so I could accompany my new group of friends when they presented their project on Parent’s Day. This was an exciting change, lots of new people to meet and impress! (My usual life languishing in the corner gets a bit boring!)
On October the 24th I will be returning to the Big Smoke to attend the six monthly Penguin Club dinner. Anne Hartnett is the guest speaker. As a master (or should I say “mistress”) of Show and Tell, Anne is relying on my superlative illustrative powers to assist her in bringing our story to a further untapped audience.
From there I will be travelling direct to the Waterkeepers Australia Conference in Goolwa, where I hear there will be a brand new influx of fans to fall prey to my charms, many from interstate, even overseas!
I can’t wait!
Cheers for now, dahlings, I must get my Beauty Sleep.
Po’Manda
Next episode - Christmas 2008
