Mobbs
A Large Portion, Yes
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Some of you may have seen the recent news headlines about the arson attacks in the small country town of Marnoo.
Apparently, 5 separate fires were lit, which razed two houses and a church, and damaged two sheds.
I grew up in Marnoo and would never have expected such an event in my 17 years there. The place is quiet and close-knit, and most Marnooites hardly had enough creativity to spit in the street, much less to go on an arson spree.
Things have certainly changed, obviously. The town's a bit smaller, many services and amenities have gone (including the footy club), and I suppose residents are looking down the barrel of a town and society falling to dust around them. Still, surely none would be that keen to hurry the process.
To watch the article on the news about the fires, I was forced to put down the "Marnoo Community News" (a 1, 2 or 3 page weekly newsletter to which I subscribe), upon which was mapped the main streetscape beautification plan, an exciting and hopeful project designated for the 'Noo in an effort to shore up the hopes and spirit of the residents.
Then the telly showed me ruins of the church my sister was married in (maybe two sisters, I can't remember, sheeze I might have been baptised in it for all I remember).
It must be a kick in the guts for those who still proudly call Marnoo home, something I would have certainly have done myself if there'd been a job there for me at the time I left.
Most painful to me, while watching the news story, was a scene of one resident (I'm sure it was the bloke I think it was). Suffice to say that the bloke and his family had, nearly 20 years ago, upped and left the town of Cockatoo, and moved to Marnoo, when their property vanished in a cloud of smoke on a very dark day in Victorian history. I remember hearing that the sons would cower inside whenever the CFA siren sounded.
Now this. I've been thinking of the things I'd like to see done to the **** who set these fires, but, now, in reflection, I've decided.
Lash him to the fireplace of the ex-Cockatoo bloke. All yours, mate.
Apparently, 5 separate fires were lit, which razed two houses and a church, and damaged two sheds.
I grew up in Marnoo and would never have expected such an event in my 17 years there. The place is quiet and close-knit, and most Marnooites hardly had enough creativity to spit in the street, much less to go on an arson spree.
Things have certainly changed, obviously. The town's a bit smaller, many services and amenities have gone (including the footy club), and I suppose residents are looking down the barrel of a town and society falling to dust around them. Still, surely none would be that keen to hurry the process.
To watch the article on the news about the fires, I was forced to put down the "Marnoo Community News" (a 1, 2 or 3 page weekly newsletter to which I subscribe), upon which was mapped the main streetscape beautification plan, an exciting and hopeful project designated for the 'Noo in an effort to shore up the hopes and spirit of the residents.
Then the telly showed me ruins of the church my sister was married in (maybe two sisters, I can't remember, sheeze I might have been baptised in it for all I remember).
It must be a kick in the guts for those who still proudly call Marnoo home, something I would have certainly have done myself if there'd been a job there for me at the time I left.
Most painful to me, while watching the news story, was a scene of one resident (I'm sure it was the bloke I think it was). Suffice to say that the bloke and his family had, nearly 20 years ago, upped and left the town of Cockatoo, and moved to Marnoo, when their property vanished in a cloud of smoke on a very dark day in Victorian history. I remember hearing that the sons would cower inside whenever the CFA siren sounded.
Now this. I've been thinking of the things I'd like to see done to the **** who set these fires, but, now, in reflection, I've decided.
Lash him to the fireplace of the ex-Cockatoo bloke. All yours, mate.
