Shearing, Sharing and Travelling.

Sunday October 24th.

Got up early to see some shearing at a neighbours (i.e. 20 minutes drive away!) farm. There were two shearers going at a rate of knots. They get $2.50 per sheep and work from eight in the morning until five in the evening, with an hours lunch break and two other half hour breaks. It is tough going and very physical They bring their own electric shears but all else is provided by the farmer. The sheds and sorting/ baling etc facilities make this an expensive outlay for farmers and is one of the reasons the smaller farms have difficulty in surviving. The shearing cannot be done in a central shed like long ago due to the spread of diseases. The banter between the shearers and other workers was great crack.

Went to Mass in Edenhope and sang with the choir. It is a small congregation and the priest has six churches to service. They are hours apart and so each church has mass every second week. There will be an Ecumenical service next week in the Luthern Church.

Had lunch in Lawrie and Sue’s, Sue being the sister of Tony. It was a lovely BBQ in a house by the lake. Great family meal and it was so noticeable in the conversations that the descentents of the Irish are still a very central part of that community.

Took the back roads to Penola, where Saint Mary MacKillop built her first school. The sun was shining and I was in no hurry. The Mary MacKillop Centre was just closing as I arrived. I told them that I was all the way from Ireland and they stayed open. They also opened the schoolhouse and shop for me. I enjoyed reading Mary's story and learning that even went to Ireland and recruited there. The Irish were central to most happenings in the Australian Catholic Church.