Bass Coast Post
  • Home
    • Recent articles
  • News
    • Point of view
    • View from the chamber
  • Writers
    • Anne Davie
    • Anne Heath Mennell
    • Bob Middleton
    • Carolyn Landon
    • Catherine Watson
    • Christine Grayden
    • Dick Wettenhall
    • Ed Thexton
    • Etsuko Yasunaga
    • Frank Coldebella
    • Gayle Marien
    • Geoff Ellis
    • Gill Heal
    • Harry Freeman
    • Ian Burns
    • Joan Woods
    • John Coldebella
    • Jordan Crugnale
    • Julie Statkus
    • Kit Sleeman
    • Laura Brearley >
      • Coastal Connections
    • Lauren Burns
    • Liane Arno
    • Linda Cuttriss
    • Linda Gordon
    • Lisa Schonberg
    • Liz Low
    • Marian Quigley
    • Mark Robertson
    • Mary Whelan
    • Meryl Brown Tobin
    • Michael Whelan
    • Mikhaela Barlow
    • Miriam Strickland
    • Natasha Williams-Novak
    • Neil Daly
    • Patsy Hunt
    • Pauline Wilkinson
    • Phil Wright
    • Sally McNiece
    • Terri Allen
    • Tim Shannon
    • Zoe Geyer
  • Features
    • Features 2022
  • Arts
  • Local history
  • Environment
  • Bass Coast Prize
  • Community
    • Diary
    • Courses
    • Groups
  • Contact us

Michael of Krowera

12/3/2016

0 Comments

 
PictureCartoon by Natasha Williams-Novak
Michael is a man with a problem.  He has a weak heart, the kind that melts when he sees someone or something in need. 

By Bob Middleton
March 12, 2016

TWO acres of bush, a dozen or so badly placed native shrubs, some rather large garden beds and a vegie plot that had gone feral. We were in need of help and Michael answered our plaintive cry.

Now he comes up weekly from Krowera to throw himself into battle against this botanical invasion. Usually a Tuesday morning but that can vary. You see, Michael has a problem. He has a weak heart, the kind that melts when he sees someone or something in need.  Somewhere along the path of life Michael got dusted with kindness.

The other morning he rang to cancel his visit due to an urgent need to build a chook house. That came as a surprise to us. We knew he had a couple of horses, two old pet steers,  a dog and a cat, a house gecko of 13 years standing and a friendly visiting fox, but nothing about chooks.

He said he was sitting in this dead-end lane viewing the V8s racing around the Island circuit when a rooster came strutting up. “This poor creature’s been dumped and is in need of a loving home,” Michael thought. “Come sit with me and I shall take thee to a place of safety.” He didn't say where he housed him for the first night but by the second he had him secure in a newly built fortress.

As time went by we got weekly updates about the level of crowing that came from Rooster Palace but eventually either this island bird realised he had found his home or the family adjusted to a newly acquired farm yard serenade.

We get these weekly reports from Michael during the morning break as we sit sipping tea.    He tells us he has held down two jobs throughout his working life, 21 years in each. That degree of loyalty and dependability continues in his retirement years as he takes on caring for farm animals also in retirement.     

These days he cares for pets discarded by children who are children no more. They have moved on to join an adult world. That’s why the horses. The steers came to keep the grass down.
He admits he does not feel that comfortable around horses, yet for years he has been going out daily to care for their needs. Rugging them up on cold winter nights, paying for vet care, hoof trimming, regular worming. Travelling to Lang Lang to get feed, especially for the old mare after she lost all her teeth and needed to be hand fed.

Some weeks back he had to call in the vet to have her put down. Well, she was 38 years old. The vet expressed surprise at her longevity saying it was a testament to all the love and care she had received. Still Michael would not have budgeted for the cost of the excavator, nor the sorrow. It had to be a home burial. Michael would not have had it any other way.

A couple of weeks later he said goodbye to one of his much-loved steers. Another vet visit, but this time a bit of good fortune. A nearby knackery collected the old bony body free of charge. Those two steers had been together for 10 years, the horses longer, and Michael said the separation anguish for both survivors was palpable and very moving.

We hope next week’s morning tea break brings forth brighter news. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Bob Middleton

    Bob Middleton spent his working life in the wool industry, classing, buying, selling and teaching. He has a weakness for horses, dogs and pigeons. Bob died in November 2018.    

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    March 2017
    March 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed