Only today, as she cut my hair, did I learn that Tina's real name is Bettina. Always pleasant in manner and immaculately groomed, Tina has a salon in the main street of Mitchell and caters for the hair needs of most people in this small outback town.
As the only hairdresser in Mitchell she's busy, especially prior to events such as weddings, parties and balls. With years of experience behind her, natural talent and skill, Tina is a huge but possibly unrecognized asset to Mitchell.
According to the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui, the placement of a jade plant at the entrance to a home creates harmony and the flow of good energy. For this reason jade is considered a symbol of good luck, prosperity and friendship. Native to Asia, jade is an easy plant to share because it grows easily from cuttings. Consequently it's often called the friendship plant.
The jade I have growing by our front door in Mitchell dates back 40 years to a cutting given to me by a special friend, Sally. Whenever we've moved, a piece of this plant has come too, so continuing its line. In Mitchell it's flourishing and continues to create its flow of harmony and good energy in and around our home.
Over a period of four years I've watched the seasons come and go in relation to a mulberry tree growing alongside the Maranoa River, next to the Mitchell road bridge. This tree survived the seven-year drought even producing crops of mulberries throughout those desperately dry years. Then in January 2010 floodwaters knocked the tree over and I thought it was dead.
But this tree is resilient and up shot a mass of stems, perhaps around 100 in number. Each stem is like a mini-tree with some branches, large heart-shaped leaves and a crop of fruit at the pale red stage. It won't be long till the fruit swells with juices and turns black in colour -- ready to eat. Mulberry trees remind me of the silkworms of my youth, of cocoons spun of golden silk that I unwound and made into a plait.
Although the Mitchell Library does not contain the number of books found in libraries servicing larger populations, we do have a librarian who knows the individual interests of the people of Mitchell and surrounds. As a result, Glenda offers a unique service not often found in larger areas.
Ordering in books for particular people is something Glenda likes to do, then she offers them as surprise gifts of the mind. The latest -- for me -- was a recently published book about Charles Darwin, a subject I'm particularly interested in. Sometimes I'll wander into the library, my mind blank as to the fiction and I want to read, and I'll say to Glenda, "Can you recommend something?" And knowing me she'll choose a selection of books that I'm sure to enjoy. It is Glenda's ability and willingness to match people with books that makes her such an excellent librarian.
Now that the Landmark Art Show has finished, we've had the pleasure of hanging four new pictures on our walls. All are photos that symbolise outback Queensland. My favourite won first prize and is the creation of Gigi Robertson of Westwood. The subject is six apostle birds cuddled up together along a wire fence.
The second photograph taken by Gigi is of galahs perched in a tree. Lachlan Robertson, Gigi's son, was highly commended for a head study of a goanna. It now has pride of place on our kitchen wall. The fourth photograph is the creation of Jenny Walker from Iwona, and is a stunning bulbous boab.
