<!--quoteo(post=146803:date=Tue 12th Jan 2010, 09:15 PM:name=graeme)-->QUOTE(graeme @ Tue 12th Jan 2010, 09:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hi Azza, thanks, no am definitely not a "Tourist Wrangler". Very involved with Omeo Historical Society (non profit , different focus) who run the Historic Park and have an interest in gold mining (from my dad). Generally find myself at odds with those business operators who cant see past their cash register. Not a pub person either, you'll notice that my rides arent based on where to get the next beer (wine drinker). Most areas have an interesting story to tell and the extent of this areas history is a bit of an eye opener to most visitors because what you see as you drive in is mostly bush, there is nothing here, most think, as they hurtle through. Many history savvy locals were astounded (not just here but also in places like Bright / Myrtleford / Dargo) by what the 03 fires revealed, that is that all the rivers and banks along their entire length have been mined, as well as every gully, there is rock work etc in places that many considered pristine. A number of the central areas have always been known to have been "industrial suburbs" but there literally isnt a single hill, valley, or stretch of anything remotely wet that hasnt at least been tested for gold. Most of my support for the Society is because the Historic park is "original", Sovereign Hill is a top tourist attraction but its completely manufactured, we dont cater for that sort of crap. I had the privelege of going into the Haunted Stream / Stirling area post 07 fires to look at what was exposed, absolutely extraordinary the extent of human activity. Now, see what you've started, another rant, and havent even touched on the environmental damage that the mining caused and the repercussions today----blah blah blah
cheers Graeme
PS but tomorrows ride could be mostly gravel (good) along Angora Range Road and Mt Delusion Rd where you could see some of the disgraceful damage done by clearfell logging? Oh dear------<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Graeme,
Tour sounds fabulous ! I plan to be there. On our crotch rubbers ride [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img] last year we visited the Museum at Omeo. Met an interesting bloke named Ben Buckley. It turned out that he grew up in Balnarring (our town) and not only gave us the run down on the Omeo area but also some dirt on ours. We got to talking about where the actual source of the Murray is and he offered to chopper us up there for a fee. We heard later that he is colourful character in the area who has been known to land his plane in the main streets of towns etc among other things
Rick
cheers Graeme
PS but tomorrows ride could be mostly gravel (good) along Angora Range Road and Mt Delusion Rd where you could see some of the disgraceful damage done by clearfell logging? Oh dear------<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Graeme,
Tour sounds fabulous ! I plan to be there. On our crotch rubbers ride [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img] last year we visited the Museum at Omeo. Met an interesting bloke named Ben Buckley. It turned out that he grew up in Balnarring (our town) and not only gave us the run down on the Omeo area but also some dirt on ours. We got to talking about where the actual source of the Murray is and he offered to chopper us up there for a fee. We heard later that he is colourful character in the area who has been known to land his plane in the main streets of towns etc among other things
Rick
2007 TDM 900
2006 ST1300A
2006 ST1300A