The following are a selection of stories from The Bleat.  We will endeavour to publish here a story or stories from each edition of the paper.  To contact the editors, please click here.

Opening of the Collie Darkan Rail Trail

Sunday October 16 was the official opening day of the Collie Darkan Rail Trail.  After 18 months of hard work the Friends of the Trail organised a family day out.  The day started with a Walk to Cure Diabetes organised by the Wasmann family who have three children affected by Type 1 diabetes.  A group of approximately 30 people including children walked from the railway reserve to the Sports Complex and then along the rail trail back to the loading ramp.  Donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation can be made at https://checkout2.payments.com.au/jdrf/walker.asp?p=322. Horse riders rode along the rail trail from the caravan park to the railway station to join a approximately 300 people at the railway station where the official proceedings took place.  The official opening was held at 11.30am with President of the Friends of the Trail, Geoff Bunce, welcoming everyone along for the day.  The proceedings commenced with a rendition of the National Anthem performed by local singers Mad About Ewe.  Geoff provided some history to the trail and then thanked all those involved in the rail trail, including volunteers, the Shires of Collie and West Arthur, Lotterywest, the Department of Sport and Recreation.  Terry Waldron, MLA for Wagin, Mick Murray, MLA for Collie-Wellington, and Nancy Riley were invited to officially open the Rail Trail.   Following the opening, visitors were able to wander around market stalls and look at the vintage cars on display.  Mad About Ewe performed a set of songs from the verandah of the newly established Shed and the Southern Cross Bush band entertained everyone for the remainder of the afternoon. The Collie Darkan Rail Trail was originally an idea proposed by the late Clarrie Riley.  The idea was taken up by Nancy Riley and Elizabeth Bradshaw who progressed the trail to the stage that it is today. The trail runs along the old railway line extending from Darkan to Collie.  It is suitable for walkers, bike riders and horse riders.  For more information on the Rail Trail contact the Collie Visitors Centre or the Shire of West Arthur.   Article contributed by Kerryn Chia - Columnist, Collie Mail & Wagin Argus

Tornados hit areas of the Shire causing destruction and havoc in their paths On Monday 16th May 2005 a much anticipated severe weather system hit the south-west corner of WA, and impacted on the Shire of West Arthur in ways that none imagined possible. A tornado whipped through the southern part of the West Arthur shire on Monday morning around 7.30am.  The tornado hit with force uprooting and stripping many trees in its path. One resident described the tornado as a wall of leaves and branches preceded by a roar as it headed towards his house. Despite major damage occurring in the path of the tornado, it kept to a relatively isolated band.  Blocked roads meant that some residents were unable to get off their property for most of the morning while some landowners were unable to traverse their property to assess the full extent of the damage for a number of days. Damage included one roof being removed from a house, large areas of fencing, destruction of sheep yards, and a number of missing trampolines.  Power was out at a number of residences for most of Monday with Western Power crews having to battle boggy ground in order to repair poles that had been knocked over, powerlines ripped from the poles and remove trees from powerlines.  Article contributed by Kerryn Chia - Columnist, Collie Mail & Wagin Argus Julie Hosking, who lives south-west of Darkan, near Cordering had a frightening tornado experience......    “The storm started in the middle of the night with howling winds, lots of rain.    Power was lost at some point.  When we got up we noticed lots of trees uprooted, power lines down and damage surrounding the house.”   A bit later the house started to shake.  Julie’s husband Geoff got the family to stay at the bedroom end of the house whilst he secured all doors and windows.  After the tornado had passed, the family emerged to find an older style heavy trampoline blown into bush behind the house, wrapped around a tree.  Big white gums had been knocked over, a tree had fallen into the garden narrowly missing the room.  Even trees left standing were stripped bare of foliage.  The shearing shed lost half its roof.    Julie said "It was very frightening.  There's a now big clean up around the farm and house yards.  Lots of local farmers came over to assist with putting poles and power lines back up, which we are very grateful for."      If you're a West Arthur Shire resident and have a tornado story or photos to share, please send details to the Bleat c/- the West Arthur Telecentre @ westarthurtc@westnet.com.au.  Details will be published on this web page and in the next issue of the Bleat - due out Monday 23rd May 2005.     These photos show some of the damage done on the O'Connell/Chia property at Capercup 20 kms south of Darkan and Hayden & Robyn Lubcke's property 18 kms west of Darkan.

AUSTRALIA DAY BREAKFAST - 26th JANUARY 2005 The Annual Breakfast, held at Lake Towerrinning, was attended by a large number of community members.  The breakfast was cooked by the Shire Councillors and enjoyed by all who joined in.  The formalities were conducted by Shire President, Mr Ian Woodruff who welcomed everyone to the lake.  Deputy Shire President, Mrs Estelle Buller, led everyone in a rendition of Advanced Australia Fair and a recital of an Affirmation of Australian Citizenship.  Mr Woodruff then proceeded to thank all the volunteers in the community who had given their time.  He specifically thanked Mrs Bev O’Connell for her efforts in the Tsunami Relief collections and all the local volunteer fire fighters who attend fires around the district.  Young Leader Awarded Citizen of the Year Chelsea Mepham was awarded the West Arthur Citizen of the year at the annual Australia Day Breakfast for her contributions to the community as Chairperson of the Tidy Town Committee and is the youngest committee member of the Friends of Nangip Creek.  Chelsea's award was most deserving considering Chelsea’s involvement in various groups throughout the community.  Her work with the Tidy Towns committee includes preparing landscape plans for the town, applications for the Regional Tidy Town Awards, judging of the Annual Tidy Towns Garden Competition, development of recycling and waste management in and around Darkan, and promotion of recycling within the Shire.  Chelsea has been particularly dedicated to the recycling component of the Tidy Towns committee.  Being involved in the Friends of Nangip Creek has meant many days spent revegetating the creek and developing the picnic area.  Chelsea also has two small boys and is a committee member of the Darkan Playgroup and is on the establishment committee for the Darkan Toy Library.                Community Group of the Year Continuing on from his thanks, Mr Woodruff proceeded to present the awards for 2005.  The Award for the Community Group of the year was present to the Arts Council and was received by the current President Val Gibbs.  The Arts Council holds monthly morning teas and regularly makes personal invites to new community members, welcoming them into the community.  The Arts Council provides opportunities to learn new skills such as pottery, mosaics, sewing etc through workshops and through available facilities. Citizen of the Year,  as reported above, was awarded to Chelsea Mepham.  No nomination was received for the Junior Australian of the Year so no presentations were made for this award for 2005.    Following the breakfast many of the children braved the cool waters for a swim.   Many of the adults mingled by the waters edge but were reluctant to test the waters. Article contributed by Kerryn Chia - Columnist, Collie Mail & Wagin Argus