Old Characters of The Town -TakeII

[Dykey]

One morning (6 a.m.) the local paper delivery man ("Hook") had returned from his deliveries and was parked out in the centre section, opposite his shop. In getting out of his car, he some how got his sleeve of his shirt caught in the door as he shut it. Also it was in a locked position. And yes! the keys were still in the ignition.

Now "Hook" being of round build (bit like "Ray", one could say) was having difficulty of getting out of the situation.

At that time of the morning there were not many people about to help.

But alas! he could see "The Milky" coming down the street.

"Hook" started waving with his free hand.

"The Milky" seeing "Hook" waving, waved back and continued on with his deliveries.

[Dykey]

"Hook" again

NOW people, the below story is in no way a disrespect for such people like "Hook".
There is no doubt "Hook" was a funny man and he would, I'm sure,reflect this as humorous.

"Hook' telling a true story.

"I was delivering the paper at this house and as I threw the paper this bwuddy whittle kid came round the corner and I nearly bwuddy well knocked his head off".

[Ray]

I particularly remember Hook for his frequent use of the word, "bwuddy" (Bloody)  he was the only man that I ever knew who would actually split a word into syllables and insert bwuddy in between them, as in the time I heard him taking about having been to the races at, "Bawa-bwuddy-kwava" (Balaklava).

Yes, he was certainly one of the town's more notable characters.

[dianne48]

What car are you talking about Dyke,
if it was his old delivery car he never locked the door I can't recall it even having a lock on it he use to hold it shut with his arm as he drove .
 We use to sit in the back about 4 of the Moyle Town kids and fold all the papers and wrap rubber bands around them and pass them over the front seat to him ready for the next house, the bands were from old push bike tubes we would also cut up for him on the way to school.
 The car had no seat in the back and we sat on the top of the papers, we had to get up an hour earlier and go on his deliveries with him in return for a ride to school then we would pick Helen up on the last part of the trip.
My Mother use to bye him a new pipe from Norrie Carmichael for Xmas every year for giving us a ride to school, mostly in the winter months.
I am of coarse talking about the 50's.
What years are you referring to, would make a difference to what car you are talking about.

[Ray]

It always intrigued me where he got all of the bike tyres. I can remember Bertie Francis sitting in the shed out the back of the shop cutting rubber bands, Hook must have used a lot of them with the number of deliveries that he had each day.

[dianne48]

Ha Ha Ha, you would have a hard time cutting up bike tyres Ray, I think you mean Tubes it would have been a bit hard cutting them up 
I think he got a lot from Old Harrold Blasket.

[Ray]

Yes, you are right, I did mean tubes.

Slip of the tongue.

[Dykey]

The first one I remember is an old , green, Morris Oxford.This was mainly used for the delivery round.
(Also used for his wheat stack and wheat testing duties)

He sometimes used his good car which was an EK Holden Wagon. After having it as a good car for a few years it then went to full time deliveries.

I use to help Bertie Francis and/or Bob Dyer deliver the afternoon "News" in the old Morris.
They use to put a bit of fun into the deliveries.....unbeknown to Hook.

[Dykey]

Now tell me! Who is the "Milky" I'm referring to?

[dianne48]

  Well now that one has me 
 
 Could have been Ron wells, Ray wells, Paul Wells, Mary Kirslake or her husband or maybe Norm Couzner depends what year your talking about. That's about all that comes to mind at the moment.

[Dykey]

It was Ron.

[dianne48]

I think Uncle Alf and Clarry Kirkland also delivered milk as well, can you remember if they did Dyke.

While we are at it come on who else, see how good we are.

I know Annie Gibbons sold milk and cream, I think I can recall Earnie and Ron delivering, they had cows and a dairy down the back yard at their Mums house. That is were Bill Neaves use to live.
Earnie use to keep Bees as well, he lived on Govement Road were Plugger Williams use to live.

There was a Dairy on the corner of the Cemetery, names on the tip of the tongue but won't pop off. Was it Mc Doogle??

Have another one as well can not think of the name, I think his Family use to have it he use to work at the Flour Mill tall fella with a very pretty wife. I think her name was Val. 

[Ray]

I know Annie Gibbons sold milk and cream, I think I can recall Earnie and Ron delivering, they had cows and a dairy down the back yard at their Mums house. That is were Bill Neaves use to live.
Earnie use to keep Bees as well, he lived on Govement Road were Plugger Williams use to live.

I'm looking for a photo of Bill Neaves old place, you haven't got one have you Di?

Have another one as well can not think of the name, I think his Family use to have it he use to work at the Flour Mill tall fella with a very pretty wife. I think her name was Val. 

Was it Robinson?

[dianne48]

No Ray I have not got one, did have but would not have a clue what happened to it.

If you were wondering about the milking sheds they ran all the way along the back fence and the holding yard use to be just inside the end of the road along side Kirklands fence.

There use to be a huge Cellar at the back of the house, Annie use to keep the milk and cream down there.

Yes you are right it was (Bikie) Robinson, don't think that's how you spell it, just come to me Tommy was his real name.
Thanks Ray.  Two minds are better than one and isn't it strange how you can not think of something and someone says something and it all starts to come back to you.

They tell me the work on the Belalie Hotel has stopped gee they are strange up that way, they come in and start something then leave
it.   Don't understand.

I have been rather busy with the group and have been voted back in again this year, but I hope I can get some more of the clips up again soon.

[Ray]

No Ray I have not got one, did have but would not have a clue what happened to it.

If you were wondering about the milking sheds they ran all the way along the back fence and the holding yard use to be just inside the end of the road along side Kirklands fence.

There use to be a huge Cellar at the back of the house, Annie use to keep the milk and cream down there.

Yes you are right it was (Bikie) Robinson, don't think that's how you spell it, just come to me Tommy was his real name.
Thanks Ray.  Two minds are better than one and isn't it strange how you can not think of something and someone says something and it all starts to come back to you.

They tell me the work on the Belalie Hotel has stopped gee they are strange up that way, they come in and start something then leave
it.   Don't understand.

I have been rather busy with the group and have been voted back in again this year, but I hope I can get some more of the clips up again soon.

Someone I know was talking to Tom earlier this year ("Bikie" was from Mannanarie, and no relation), I can't remember who it was though. Unfortunately Val passed away a few years back, due to complications from a severe asthma attack I believe, they were a lovely couple. When the Mill closed here Tom moved to Murray bridge to work in the mill down there, as far as i know he's still living there.

I was only speaking to Troy and Wayne last week he comes up here quite regularly. Work was to recommence on the Belalie at the beginning of this month, but  paying jobs must come first and they are all busy in down South at the moment.

I'm glad to hear that you are being kept busy, Y'know idle hands do the devil's work