<![CDATA[ITSMORETHANAGAME - 2021 Newsletter]]>Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:26:38 +1100Weebly<![CDATA[Cactus Country]]>Thu, 08 Jul 2021 06:41:47 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/cactus-countryMarg & Dave accompanied Mel on the first day of her holiday as she headed out into the country within the Murray bubble ... no quarantine and lots to see.  Mel's first stop, which was on her way to Urana NSW, was the little Vic town of Strathmerton.  As this is only less than an hour from Shepparton we all did the trip to explore Cactus Country and feast on their famous Nachos and Cactus cake.
Here are some pictures that perhaps do not do justice to the amazing sights at this 12 acre property. 
... and of course there is a video ... 
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<![CDATA[Bago Maze & Winery]]>Sun, 06 Jun 2021 22:41:15 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/bago-maze-wineryFinally returned from nearly 4 weeks in Port Macquarie environs with many memories of blue skies and no masks.  Back to Kialla where masks are mandatory but movement is not constrained like in Melbourne.
Now here is one of the highlights of a tourist spot in Port Macquarie.
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<![CDATA[O'Maras and Werners in Port Macquarie]]>Sun, 23 May 2021 12:31:31 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/omaras-and-werners-in-port-macquarieHere are a few photos to prove that it is summer still in some parts of Australia.
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<![CDATA[Mel (& Marg’s) Mobility Misadventures]]>Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:09:57 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/mel-margs-mobility-misadventuresReporter: Mel Werner
As I am sure we are all aware, my new year began with somewhat of a mobility misadventure involving a poorly judged foot placement, a steep slope, a loose gravel road, a large rut formed inconveniently by those 4WD’ers before me and that problematic force of gravity. To make the story sound so much more exciting I will mention the chainsaw I held that I am sure played part in the final outcome, I was extremely conscious at the time of not inflicting damage (on my favourite chainsaw that is, not me!) …. = foot pointing in a not so favourable direction, a story to tell and just the beginning of the ‘Mobility Misadventures”!!
Fast forward a couple of weeks, first day out of hospital and I am ready to take on the world in my new non-weightbearing state. Much to Mum’s reluctance, I was able to convince that the dogs were smelly and needed a wash ... and that we should walk them to the local dog wash, after all I live under a kilometre from the wash location, I have myself a wheelchair and I am craving fresh air, what could possibly go wrong on this adventure!! Two 25kg dogs super excited to be ‘taking mum’ for a walk, a slight decline followed by incline in altitude along the route, a couple of gutter crossings, all minor details really! What was discovered is that concrete foot paths have lots of bumps, tree roots create cracks and variances of concrete height on either side of the cracks, manual wheel chairs really need some consideration put into a more appropriate breaking system when traveling on a decline, it seems motor power would be of benefit when attacking inclines, disabilities do argue with other disabilities (you know those really handy ripple strips on the ground that assist the vision impaired to move around … they have quite an opposite effect on the mobility impaired!). We learned that when the wheelchair pusher wants to power forward and the wheelchair rider wants to slow down (remember early days, trust for wheelchair pusher has not yet been established), this is very counterproductive! Most important lesson of the day, areas of the gutter that have been designed as crossing points are often deep, while it may seem that forward momentum is a feasible option to overcome these obstacles, in fact this does not guarantee successful crossing of the little front wheels and wheelchairs can in fact perform handstands (disclaimer: no subsequent injuries were sustained during this activity, and while air between seat and patients backside may have been achieved at no time did experimentation result in full concrete face plant). Observations from first Misadventure …. No further wheelchair walking of dogs will be attempted!
​Not too many days later … I decide I would like to assist with some veggie garden maintenance. Mum strongly vocalises her disapproval to my idea and suggests that I sit on the edge of the concrete and throw whatever instructions I wish for her to follow. I ignore her request and start my journey on crutches across the gravel to the veggie garden! Do you know when you have not moved much for several weeks, moving 10 or so metres on crutches across gravel can probably be compared to a 5km park run. I make it but quickly discover I am not going to make the return journey without a pit stop so send mum to collect a chair for me to rest on. Obliging as always mum collects a chair, just a standard old spare kitchen chair of mine, wooden seat with metal legs that taper to quite a thin spike like bottom. Decided that much more appropriate than the camp chair that is too low for me to get out of with my heavy casted leg suspended off the ground out the front of me, while I am still working on the core strength to get off a chair of any height it is unanimously agreed that with a little help this one is probably doable! At this stage we had not considered the rain of the last 24hours or the addition of auto timed sprinkler water that had been added to the chosen seating area. Within about 30 seconds, as our bulging fear filled eyes met, a discovery was made … spike like chair legs + wet muddy ground + Mel’s weight = slow ingestion of chair by the ground below! A situation that was sinking fast beyond resurrection! Quick discovery was made that Mum was not a weightlifter, Mel’s core muscles were, well, lets just call them crap! Panicked screaming commenced, Mum made land speed records to alert Dad who was asleep on the couch while I clung for dear life to my sinking chair! A minute or so later, Mum, Dad, and a broken patient by this point about 4 inches from the ground (but somehow with leg still elevated) … the rest of the misadventure is all a bit of a blank, but lesson learned … Mel should listen to Mum’s suggestions!
​So, we have done the wheelchair, done the crutches, to finalise the Misadventure series there must be a knee scooter story … original cast of Mel, Mum and the two dogs will not disappoint! On a lovely Autumn day, dogs yet again super excited at the prospect of a walk, Mel chomping at the bit to get out in the sunshine, Mum this time in agreeance with the plans of outside adventure, especially with the adequate preparation this time with the acquisition of a whiz bang all terrain knee scooter!! Off we set for an adventure around the lake! Let’s not make this a long-winded tale, let’s get straight to the facts … sun shining, Mel smiling, dogs running, scooter is red which means it goes faster!! Until a noise develops, followed by a wobble, followed by the loss of a wheel!! Again, no animals (or people) where harmed in the production of this misadventure! Lesson from this one …. Someone should really carry a phone with them when going for a walk! … for the record Dad has now engineered a bracket system for the purpose of carrying the backup crutches!
I am pleased to announce that I have now (mostly) ditched the mobility equipment, and I certainly have a new awareness of every bump on the ground surface!! Huge appreciation as always to my Mobility Misadventure Mate … Mum xxx
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<![CDATA[Fur Life Shepparton]]>Sun, 18 Apr 2021 11:11:46 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/furlife-sheppartonOn another sunny day in Shepparton we joined Mel as her employer, Apiam, opened their new clinic to their portfolio of 50+ clinics through Victoria, NSW, Qld and Tassie.  They are hard to miss with the corporate teal.
As many would know Mel has settled in as a vet nurse in the Triage team that Apiam have set up recently to cover their 150 vets that are working out of their Fur Life clinics.  The Triage team was set up in 2020 to provide after hours veterinary service for farms as well as small animals through the Fur Life clinics.  This reduces stress on the vets who are otherwise on constant call.
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50+ clinics
One of Mel's typical shifts would be from 12:30am to 8:30am when she takes calls from anywhere in the eastern states from farmers with calving problems or a pet owner whose dog has just eaten some nasty chemical from the garage or the pet bird has fallen off the perch overnight.  Providing empathetic and valuable advice while waking up the appropriate local vet, if necessary, and arranging payment of $100s for a call out fee are just some of the tasks being performed from the home office.
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<![CDATA[Adelaide 2021]]>Sat, 27 Mar 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/adelaide-2021After 2 previous attempts we finally got to Adelaide for a three day tour that included meeting up with the Prices and putting in a big day touring McLaren Vale wineries.
Day1 was a walking tour of Adelaide that included the spectacular Adelaide Library and the Mortlock Wing.  This is easily the most beautiful public building we have visited.
A further highlight was a chauffeured tour of McLaren Vale wineries with the Prices.  This closely followed their honeymoon trip of 40+ years ago so recounting this to many of our hosts was a bit surreal as we reflected that this trip was before they were born. 
A recent installation, but long term project, was the Salvador Dali Exhibition at the dÁrenberg Cube.  Actually nothing could explain this 4 storey exhibition so I will let a few photos tell the tale.
First wine tasting was at Samuel Gorge winery.  Apparently this is as small and rustic as it was 40 years ago.  
A sensational 3 hour lunch at Coriole Winery capped it all off before being chauffeured back to Adelaide.
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<![CDATA[Daylesford to Castlemaine]]>Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:45:51 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/daylesford-to-castlemaineReporter:  Tony Lawler
In early March 2021 the Lawlers and Prices walked the Goldfields Track from Daylesford to Castlemaine over 4 days on a guided walk by Parktrek.
Here is the photographic proof.

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<![CDATA[Mildura]]>Sun, 21 Mar 2021 21:06:40 GMThttp://itsmorethanagame.net/2021-newsletter/milduraThe original plan was to visit Mildura as the initial part of our post retirement trip in 2020 across the Nullabor and up the west coast.  We all know what happened to that in mid year.  We tried again in late 2020 but then our address in Melb CBD excluded us from staying in Mildura.  Our third attempt that was to include a shortened itinerary to Wilpena Pound and Adelaide has been further shortened to permit us to carry out our carer duties for Mel who is recovering well from a badly broken ankle earlier in 2021.
After all of that we have enjoyed a great few days that included a visit to where the Darling and Murray rivers meet at Wentworth, walked the cliffs in Mungo National Park where man & woman walked over 20,000 years ago and we learned a lot about the foresight from the Chaffey brothers in setting up the irrigation settlement of Mildura in the 1860's.
Here is a little compilation of our photos.

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