Griffith, NSW - four out five friendsHi all, another packed weekend of planning and visits to areas of interest, this time hosted by Frank in Griffith, New South Wales.
Naturally a great deal of planning was achieved, including selection of the team mascot, but all work and no play makes for a very dull blog and we were able to fit in some wineries (purchasing a very nice De Bortoli Rose) and an excellent meal a Il Corso. Unfortunately Jo wasn't able to join us due to mechanical troubles and we caught up with Jo over the telephone.
A visit to the Rotary Farmers Markets showcased the range of home grown produce and products from Griffith, including citrus fruits, vegetables, salami, and olive oil.
The variety and quality of produce, meals, and wines showed the influence of the multi-cultural community, including 60% of people who claim Italian lineage .
Evan as regular visitor to Griffith, being the nearest large service centre to my own home town of Lake Cargelligo (130km), I didn't appreciate the extent of the irrigation systems established by the pioneers of the district in the 1920s and 1950s.
The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area delivers 1376 Gigalitres through 2700km of supply channels to irrigate 120,000 hectares of vineyards, citrus orchards, and rice. The system also provides water to towns and industry (www.mirrigation.com.au).
Our final visit was to the Donald Mackay memorial, erected by the Griffith Rotary Club with the support of the Griffith community.
Donald Mackay was a remarkable individual who made far-reaching contributions to the Griffith community over his lifetime, but is best known for his anti-drug campaign.
His loss to the local community and the circumstances of his life and disappearance have created a parable about the impact of one individual who choses to speak out against crime.
