White Winmar wrote:
We could use the Wandi pub as our social club. Does it still go off on a Friday night, Loris?
I'm sure it does WW, I'm sure it does....... alas I haven't been back there for years.
Do you know that Godzowne little valley WW?
The late hubby's ancestral home sits on your left as you come over the rise of road into Wandi where the Wandiligong sign is. Delightfully quaint, old brick miners cottage set back from the road surrounded by huge ancient chestnut trees. There always were artists encamped outside the house doing a plein air paintings of the picturesque scene. Actually, as I type this post, I look upon a painting of the cottage on my study wall, painted by an old Wandi local who gave it to us for our wedding present.
Aaah lovely memories of a wonderful valley. When we used to escape up there at least for a week-end every couple of months to rid ourselves of the stress of Melbourne and work. The hubby, at dusk, when 'the hatch' was on, would wade into Morse's Creek, catch a few rainbow trout then we would walk down to the Wandi Pub and they would cook your feed for you - that was the habit for many locals, take your catch down to the pub and let them prepare the meal for you and who ever would want to share it with you. Such simple, inclusive times of a wonderful community, where the pub and the footy oval were the hub of all community activities.
'though in the 70's we had to fight to keep the valley safe from the vandals.
The 'chattering classes' aka vandals, from Melbourne started noticing the area (close to the ski fields etc) and began building inappropriate brick veneer (yucky, yuck) suburban holiday houses to blight the landscape. Eventually Wandi was saved, as the valley was protected by being granted an area of historical significance, so thankfully some building standards were set before the greed of the vandals set in.
I'm sure by now the pub has become a little more 'up market'. And, it is required to adhere to health regulations, observe safety standards and only allow a certain number of patrons to be 'sardined' inside its walls at one time and, ofcourse uphold the safe serving of liquor regs!!!!!!
Times and standards move on eh? Some gains, many losses?? All depends on one's point of view.