The Blues in Bendigo

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Week 2 has wrapped up this week in Bendigo and I am continuing to learn the ropes, as are most staff, to the new curriculum in Victoria.  While this has been a bit of a challenge I am pleased to say my colleagues and the Internet have been huge helps and I feel like I am winning the battle.

I have also been settling into small town life.  Now I know for a lot of people reading this blog a country town of around 100 000 people is not a small place, but it is for Penni and I.  We have been entertaining ourselves with farmer’s markets, drives through the countryside and humorous (although I am not sure they are meant to be) Bendigo building commercials. 

These ads try to persuade you to buy from one of three Bendigo builders.  What makes them truly incredible though, aside from the atrocious soundtracks, is that two of the ads actually use the same actress who, moreover, does exactly the same acting in both commercials.  I even think that she wears the same clothes.  After seeing this commercial for the second time I had a strange yearning to drive around the town looking for this mysterious actress just to ask which company she would really recommend.  Although I can’t say that this will have persuaded us to pack up and relocate yet.

The other big news around town is that the Carlton AFL team rucked up and held a few open practices for the locals.  Carlton’s star player, Chris Judd (read Jarome Iginla or ummm Phil Kessel?) didn’t show up but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the local media who fawned over their heroes with multiple articles singing the praises of the boys.

Andrew Mcinnis

Lachie Thompson

Tom Bell

Most importantly for Spring Gully was the fact that we were lucky enough to have three guests from the Blues to chat with on Friday afternoon.  Lachie Handerson (i.e. Lee Stempniak), Andrew Mcinnes and Tom Bell (i.e. two guys from Abbotsford or the Marlies who got called up for a few games and only real hard core fans know of) spent the better part of an hour chatting with the grade 5/6 students and answering their questions.  I have to give credit where it is due as the players handled questions ranging from “what is your training schedule like” and “which player do you find the hardest to defend” to gems like “have you ever farted on the field”? 

In the end, even though Chris Judd was absent from the meeting I was amazed with how much like a little boy chatting with pro-athletes can still make me feel.  Good on ya boys (although I still cheer for the Swans)!!!