Walgett,, has a reputation it may not deserve.

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 12:58
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We have been here nearly 2 weeks and found it to be almost a typical country town.

Walgett has had a fairly bad name for a number of years now, but when you visit the place it seems to be a name it no longer deserves.

All the locals I have come across have been friendly and will have a chat with you. I have not seen any drunks or violence that the town is supposedly famous for.

The two pubs in town closed a number of years ago and the Sports Club and the RSL are the only two places to get a beer, meals and pokies.
Both clubs have a relaxed atmosphere. However, the handbag and I both prefer the Sportys as it has a better wine list.

One of the pubs still has a bottle shop and a handfull of motel rooms operating.
The bottle shop prices seem to be quite reasonable. A carton of Tooheys Old is $41 compared to $46 at Blackwater.

There is another Motel at the Lightning Ridge end of town.

Fuel prices are around$1.39.

The IGA is not bad, but its better to get your meat at the butcher over the road.

There is a good coffee shop just around the corner at the main roundabout in the centre of town, it is opposite the Post Office.

The town is clean and appears to be well maintained. The only thing that really spoils it is the bars and heavy screening on many of the main street windows. Although there are some that don't have their windows barred and they are still intact.

I have not found a Caravan Park, but there is a good golf course in town.

They have a public library and tourist info centre. So being a good tourist I went to the info centre and asked what can I see around Walgett. Tthe short answer was 'Nothing'. The long answer was there was plenty to see around lightning Ridge and other parts of the Shire, but nothing in and around Walgett itself. There is a local museum, but its by appointment only.

Next week we are off to Canberra for a couple of days, then home to Scone, then Stradbroke for a week then off to Dalby for 7 weeks.








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Reply By: Best Off Road Affordable Storage Drawers - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 13:44

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 13:44
It's had a bad reutation for years LOL, well at least according to Banjo Paterson.


Been There Before ...
Banjo Paterson - Sydney or the Bush - late 1880's ...

There came a stranger to Walgett town,
To Walgett town when the sun was low,
And he carried a thirst that was worth a crown,
Yet how to quench it he did not know;
But he thought he might take those yokels down,
The guileless yokels of Walgett town.

They made him a bet in a private bar,
In a private bar when the talk was high,
And they bet him some pounds no matter how far
He could pelt a stone, yet he could not shy
A stone right over the river so brown,
The Darling river at Walgett town.

He knew that the river from bank to bank
Was fifty yards, and he smiled a smile
As he trundled down, but his hopes they sank
For there wasn't a stone within fifty mile;
For the saltbush plain and the open down
Produce no quarries in Walgett town.

The yokels laughed at his hopes o'erthrown,
And he stood awhile like a man in a dream;
Then out of his pocket he fetched a stone,
And pelted it over the silent stream --
He had been there before: he had wandered down
On a previous visit to Walgett town.


I always enjoyed that tale and it was put beautifully to music by Wallis Matilda around 1980.

Jim.

AnswerID: 382638

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 14:20

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 14:20
Thanks Jim

Been a long time since I heard that.

Phil
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Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 16:23

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 16:23
Thanks Jim

I liked the poem also.
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Follow Up By: Best Off Road Affordable Storage Drawers - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 20:24

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 20:24
Well chaps I see you are refined men.

See if you can't find yourself a CD (or "Limewire it) of Wallis Matilda's musical renditions of Banjo Paterson's Poems.

Their musical/vocal versions of

The Man from Snowy River
Clancy of the Overflow
Rverend Molynieux
The Man from Ironbark
Been There Before

Are simply "hair on the back of your neck" stuff.

Cheers,

Jim.

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Reply By: new boy - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 14:35

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 14:35
I thought Betty from "Hey Dad" was to blame for it's reputation
AnswerID: 382642

Follow Up By: Fab72 - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 21:16

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 21:16
Glad to hear I wasn't the only one thinking that...LOL.
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 16:34

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 16:34
Quote - "The two pubs in town closed a number of years ago and the Sports Club and the RSL are the only two places to get a beer, meals and pokies."

That's possibly why it has quietened down. No pubs. The drunks would not have been able to get a drink at the clubs as they would not have been members, so they would have emigrated to other towns.

It's good to see the town coming back to civilisation again.

PeterD
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Reply By: Member - Anthony G (ACT) - Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 18:24

Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 at 18:24
The Pubs in Berwarrina are doing a roaring trade.
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Reply By: bazza bushman - Friday, Sep 11, 2009 at 00:07

Friday, Sep 11, 2009 at 00:07
i went town 2 times for b&s balls no trouble had great time
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Reply By: Ozboc - Friday, Sep 11, 2009 at 10:54

Friday, Sep 11, 2009 at 10:54
I remember 15 years or so ago i visited the town for about a week. I found it amusing that the person who ran the general store , also ran the post office and also ran one of the pubs ...

LMAO so one person basically ran half the town .. im sure it has changed now ... (and i am sure my post will be deleted) under the chit chat rule ...
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Follow Up By: ModSquad - Friday, Sep 11, 2009 at 13:37

Friday, Sep 11, 2009 at 13:37
Ozboc,

Why would it be moderated for Chit Chat, it would more likely to be Moderated for Moderation Complaints.

Your discussion was On Topic, until you added your last line.

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