Gulargambone…………………Day 77

9 June 2014
This morning was cold as we got ready to move on. Today we drove to Gulargambone which is very roughly half way to Lightning Ridge, the opal town. If anyone is travelling this way make sure you call into the caravan park for at least a night’s stay. Owners David and Bernedette, greet everyone and told us there was a camp fire and Happy Hour at 4pm. we went over to join in and were surprised to see them serve us pizza and damper. Well done Dave and Bernie.

Gulargambone is a small rural town whose beginnings were in 1883. The town is on the Castlereagh River.  Gulargambone is an Aboriginal word meaning “ plenty galah birds”……….and plenty of galahs we saw.

Also around town are the Corrugated Iron Galahs. The galah sculptures are constructed using old corrugated iron found everywhere around town. There are 40 “birds” around town, each one comprising of 9 separate components. All birds are flying towards the town.

Once in town the birds are mainly perched.

Except for this one which is rather special. The award winning song “Raining On The Plains” inspired this upside down galah.

While living west of Gulargambone, Doug Storer wrote a poem while waiting for rain after a bit of a dry spell. His sister.added a chorus, tidied it up a bit and got the County & Western singer, John Williamson to record the song as a duet. The rest is history. The song has since won many awards.
This upside down galah celebrates that great achievement.
Here is the first verse:
“The galahs know its that time
Upside down on the power lines
Making a family on their minds
Raining on the plains again”

A beautiful sunset tonight.