Live from Murray’s bar at the Vic Hotel

Welcome again
Another week has just flown by and yes I have taken up residence at the Vic Hotel, let me tell you with the price of Hotel rooms it’s only a short term stay. There was a bit of action over the last week, so here we go.

Murray’s Bar
We have named the bar at the Vic, Murray’s Bar after famous Callawadda resident Murray “MGM” McGregor who uses it as his Melbourne base from time to time. It’s a famous bar and was once considered the bar where rural folk gather, somewhere where you didn’t look out of place in the Moleskins and tweed.

A gathering of sorts
A group of natives and former natives gathered at 11:30 thinking that Murray’s bar would be open, they soon found out it wasn’t when former native John “Fruity” Nisbet belted his nose on the door thinking it would fly open.

Big day out
The new Mayor Gary “Larry” Cameron, leading truckie Bruce “Boofhead” Hendy, Fruity, Armand “Herbie” Duxson, his lovely girlfriend Marcie, her sister, local funnyman Stewart “Smacka” MacPherson, Dwain “Daryl” Duxson and myself all attended the Carlton vs Richmond game at the MCG. It was a battle of wits as Larry and Boof following Carlton and Daryl, Herbie and myself following the Tigers. There was plenty of niggle all day and unfortunately for us Carlton took the honours.

Richo Richo man
My man Richo man had a fairly dirty day at the office but one bit of what we call “Richo magic” was worth entry fee alone. After chasing the ball along the boundary line and in hot pursuit from a Carlton opponent and another coming towards him, the big fella decided to do a reverse dribble toward goal. Sensational and bought the sea of Yellow and Black to their feet.

Young Nisbet
Fruity was in top form and was reasonably vocal event though the Bulldog where 3000km away in Darwin. He was however claiming his young cousin Trent “Young Nisbet” Cotchin who once again put in a blinding game. Its obvious now that he is by far the best Nisbet I have seen and by a long way.

After footy drinks
Once Larry had finished singing the Carlton song it was then back to Murray’s bar where we were joined by more natives and former natives. Hayden “How Hard” McLennan along with Joy “Jump for” Nisbet, Paula “Nearly 40” Duxson, Raleigh “ Nearly 9” Duxson, Peter “Punter” Jenkins and Carmel “Be quiet John” Jenkins joined in the festivities. I’m told that the younger members of the crew drew stumps early the next morning.

That would make a dad proud
Now this is a beauty and I guess you have to know these two blokes to really get the belly laugh it deserves. Father and son due Wally and Terry Brear are a couple of local characters up this way and it all happened last summer when Wally took his grandson Buzz to a one dayer at the MCG. Buzz and Wally where leaving the MCG and heading through the back streets of East Melbourne when young Buzz spotted uncle Terry, “Pop isn’t that Terry at the roundabout”, “Your right Buzz” Wally said. Now Terry also happened to also be in Melbourne and was representing the Yarrawonga and district cricket Association at country week. Now it’s a tradition to get on the sauce on the way down and apparently the boys didn’t disappoint. Well this time Terry well and truly over catered (he has been known to do that once or twice) and had his thumb out looking for a lift. The situation is that Wally is a pretty casual bloke, so he helped Terry (who was absolutely loaded and half asleep) into his cruiser and headed toward the team hotel. Well then Terry piped up from his power nap and said “where yu headed mate” Wally laughing under his breath said “Yarrawonga”, Terry then piped in and said “Yer mate I’m from Yarrawonga as well”. It wasn’t until later in the week that Wally relayed the story to Terry that he didn’t even know his own father. On the way young Buzz said “Gee pop Terry was drunk”

Golfing Guru
I’m told that young Callawadda native Sam “Slammin” Reading has and eagle twice on the par 5 at Glenorchy (Commonly known as Ally McBeal to some). Now you wouldn’t see that to often.

That will do