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Country Links

10th January from 1.00 pm

At Golden Age

Cnr Arcadia Avenue and Golf Drive

Woorim

 Poets In The Park

7.00pm Monday 18th January

Shorncliffe

Country Roundup

7th February from noon

401 Oxley Avenue

Redcliffe

Country Links  -  Mary Guest Artist 

14th February from 1.00 pm

At Golden Age

Cnr Arcadia Avenue and Golf Drive

Great Australian Muster

Toowoomba Show

15th - 17th April

Bush Poets Brekkie at

Urban Country 2010

The team presented by Wally and Mary Finch will be:

Australian Champion Bush Poet Greg North

Cay Ellem and Suzanne Hounour

Preshow music:  Mary Finch and Darren Gunn

Watch this space for Updates

G’day

Please let me bash your ear for a bit.   

What you see here in the first picture is a normal, little Australian girl sharing a loving hug with her proud and lucky Grandad (me).  That is, at a casual glance she appears to be what we usually call “normal”. But life is not always fair!   

Her name is Isabella Mary Finch.  We call her “Bella”.  She was born with a parcel of defects: incomplete development of her right ear and mandible, scoliosis and a bi-fold thumb.

In common with her concerned parents (our son and his wife) we too share many concerns for her development.  Bella is different in her physical appearance.  (Note her ear in the second picture)  This is not merely a simple, superficial cosmetic issue.  Her undeveloped ear (Microtia) comes complete with an absent ear canal (Atresia) which means Bella has little or no hearing in that ear.   Until recently, the best available medical advice was she would need to learn to adapt to her lack of hearing in what Bella calls her “little ear”.   For her, that also means missing so much of what is very  important — in life’s experiences and in the class room.  Things we take for granted with normal hearing.  Again, in common with her Mum and Dad, Mary and I desperately want her to grow to her full potential without additional burdens of a hearing defect that makes her look and feel different to everyone else.    

A recent Australian visit by two pioneering surgeons provided hope.  They have developed techniques for creating ear canals, ear drums and reconstruction for the ear itself.  Their track record of results is truly amazing.  Unfortunately, their kind of surgery is not available here in Australia.  So Bella is booked into her first reconstructive surgery at the Californian Ear Institute in Palo Alto on 1^st March 2010.  Naturally this involves unwanted overseas travel and many other huge expenses not covered by Medicare or any other insurance  —  a total in excess of $100,000.

In an effort to help Bella’s Mum and Dad reach their goal to cover their many expenses this letter is a plea for help.  Any amount large or small will be gratefully received.  Collectively, everything in the fund raising process helps and is very much appreciated. 

If you can help please contact Mary or me at P. O. Box 68, Morayfield  4506.  Phone 5495 5110 wmbear1@bigpond.com  Or you might prefer to contact Bella’s Mum (Kylie) or Dad (Mark) at nakim_2003@hotmail.com  

On behalf of my family, we are grateful to you for taking time to read this request.  In this day and age we are often asked to “dig deep” into our pockets for many worthwhile causes.  For us none has ever been closer to home.  

Hopefully, some of you can help. 

Regards 

Welcome to my campfire.  Come step into the light.

You and I have many things to talk about tonight.

Get a load off your feet.  Come closer to my fire

Where we can spin a yarn or two others will admire.

You look a little peckish.  Need a bite to eat?

You know, I cook a damper that's pretty hard to beat.

The billy has just boiled.  Let's share a mug of tea

While we enjoy the pleasure of each others company.

Haven't seen you for ages.  Tell me, how've you been?

has it bee a year or four or something in between.

But hey what the heck?  Let's just say it's been a while.

Mate, it sure is good for me to see your ugly dial.

Let's talk about the good times.  Forget about the bad.

Life is far too short to be wasted feeling sad.

Let our minds roll back to when we were young and fit

And does it really matter if we stretch the truth a bit?

Over many years you and I have shared some miles

We have shared some hard times and we have shared some smiles.

There were times, instinctively, we knew what to do.

Then there were the others we didn't have a clue.

I remember times we thought we'd never win

Even so we had a go; did it with a grin.

And then there were the times we thought we couldn't lose

When we'd take the world on fortified by booze.

We are getting older, Mate, our youth lost in a haze,

Well recalled with sentiment and called "better days".

Of course, it's self indulgent.  Still I think we should

Feel good about ourselves, for lifeis pretty good.

There's a million stars above.  See, there's the Southern Cross,

The night is getting colder.  Think there'll be a frost.

But right now around this fire it is good and warm.

Just right for spinning yarns by cobbers in rare form.

                                                        ©  Wally (The Bear) Finch 9/99

Mary will be the Featured Guest Artist at Country Links

Valentine's Day

14th February 2010

You're going to love her

See you there