Email to:How Green Was My Car Wash
You know the place, you love the place……..
And then, some smart talkin’ guy in a fancy automobile suddenly turns up to do a travel piece for a big city newspaper……..
And then…
Without shame, without any feelins’ for the good folk livin’, lovin’ and learnin’ in my irrigated hometown, Leeton, New South Wales, declares:
‘A personal favourite is the automated carwash on Kurrajong Avenue, a must visit for anyone wishing to remove the coating of red mud/dust that clings to every vehicle that spends a day or two around Leeton. An extended wash and brush up costs $12, including the psychedelic lashings of green, white and purple foam. Red mist might impress the four wheel drivers of Mosman but, as the exit signs says, ‘a clean car is a happy car’.
[Sydney Morning Herald, Traveller: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/great-outdoors/soaking-in-the-wetlands-20111019-1m7i5.html
[Mister Huxley on assignment: Cr: State Library, Archives Florida: flickr]
Well, well, well Mister John Huxley………
No wonder there’re 450 inquiries into the Australian media simultaneously underway with operators like you on the loose……
Descending on law abidin’ towns with big expense accounts, struttin’ down main streets swingin’ big notebooks and pointy biros…..
….Demanding, with menaces, to be taken right now to local attractions.
You only had to ask nicely Mister Huxley……..
I note you went to our World Heritage/UN Swamp Mission listed swamps and popped into the ‘modest’ SunRice Visitors’ Centre.
But Mister Huxley, you gotta understand that highly significant swamps and free sample bags of ‘Two Second Rice With Three Second Prunes’ do not a town make.
Nor – for that matter – does the zaniest car wash on the Pacific Rim.
Come again to Leeton at Christmas Mr Huxley.
Walk the mysterious laneways at the back of the shops on Pine Avenue.
There you’ll see the most magnificent examples of historic rusted corrugated iron fences outside of India……
…..Tap on the steamed up windows of young lovers parking on irrigation channel banks under the most stunning moonlit skies outside of Uzbekistan……
……..Go crazy during a night of bacchanalian alcopop driven dancing and loose talk in the auditorium of the Leeton Soldiers’ Club ['anyone for the Kokoda Trail?']
And Mister Huxley, we won’t be going anywhere near a car wash.
To leave Leeton with an automobile covered with mud just like a choc top icecream is a long held and very important traditon……
You only had to ask.
* A bonus audio extravaganza: Kerrie Jean visits one of Leeton’s World Heritage/UN Swamp Mission listed swamps:
Episode 3: A Lovely Day At The Swamp
*********************
Gee, can’t journalists be insensitive?
I ask you: have you ever been to a place only to discover that your trip to the carwash was the highlight? I doubt it, I really do.
What can we do to clean up journalism?
If a journalist was visiting your town, what would you really demand he/she report back on? [and please don't, don't tell me your town has the most exciting car wash anywhere]
I await your news. Report in by:
Just clicking on the ‘comment’ thingo and following the simple instructions. The place to write your gems is at the bottom of the last published comment. *A little bit of counsel for people new to this caper. Your email (just called ‘mail’ in this case) address does NOT come up on site. And just ignore the URL thingo.
Prawn Cutlet Award
October 25th, 2011 at 9:29 am
I was a little stunned, too, by Mr Huxley’s concluding remarks about the Kurrajong Avenue car wash.
And I was quite surprised by his aside about Mosman drivers . . . some who I know would love to visit Paul’s place for a freshen-up for their vehicle.
Nevertheless, I suspect you, Kerrie Jean, are being a little reticent in your references to your own gala visit to the area a number of months ago.
While Mr Huxley only looked at Leeton, I feel he missed the true ‘underbelly’ of life in Leeton and the MIA.
You were courageous enough to reveal the sizzling truth behind life in Leeton, from a former participant’s involvement, and that was a far more valuable study of our town!
That Mr Huxley seemingly chose to ignore all your sparkling groundwork speaks volumes about his lack of preparation for the ‘holiday trip’.
Dear Mister Palm Avenue,
I am still reeling from Mr Huxley’s contribution.
While it is true that Leeton has a magnificent car wash, it has much, much MORE to offer visitors.
Its major drawcard?
Folks with good senses of fun. Folks who share their UV cream. Folks who enjoy their pretty town.
Which [by the way] has the best library for a town its size in the whole world……
KJ.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
The first time you read a newspaper article pertaining to a subject that you have some personal knowledge about, the scales fall from your eyes and you learn an important truth – to wit, that the papers are full of tripe.
The last time I read a travel story on Leeton in a major paper, it contained the highly questionable assertion that the Roxy Theatre is known by locals as “Big Red”.
Maybe I mixed in the wrong circles, but I had never hitherto heard the Roxy referred to as “Big Red” up until that point in my life, and I never have since, and neither had any of the long-time residents of the town whom I straw-polled on the subject.
This bloke seems to be obsessed with the car-caking, Alice Springs-style red dust, which is a strange thing to by obsessed by, given that it does not exist.
Dear Roma Street,
The Roxy Theatre the ‘Big Red’? Nonsense! Nonsense!
I can take NO more of what is presented as journalism re our hometown.
Come to think of it, you’re right about the local dust – even though it’s called [I think] ‘Riverina Red’. Even the dust community of scholars can’t get it right!
To tell you the truth, I CANNOT wait to get back to the place for a long, long spell over Chrissy.
KJ.
October 26th, 2011 at 12:46 am
Is it true that there are only two questions in Leeton:
Let’s go to the Roxy!’
or
Nah, you’re bloody FILTHY – let’s go to the Carwash!
Not helpful The Dude, NOT helpful!
KJ.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Ahhh – The Roxy – had my first kiss there.
Dear Exposed,
And you were not alone!
Here’s my idea:
Next Ricebowl Festival, everyone who had their first kiss/feel up/handholding bout at the glorious Roxy Theatre turns up for a special screening of ‘The Year My Voice Broke’.
They MUST be accompanied by a pashing partner – whether it be wife/hubby/girlfriend/boyfriend/next door neighbour….or someone paid for two hours.
The Ricebowl Festival special Roxy ‘Pashing Sess’ will be a fantastic success – national media attention assured!
KJ.
October 28th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I have often wondered why Leetonites have a gleaming, slicked back appearance, really quite glowing you might say…
Though their boots squelch, their hair is damp and they have a car fresh odour.
Dear Mr Dude,
It is true that Leetonites take great care with their personal presentation/demeanour.
HOWEVER, I reject completely your ’suggestion’ that they achieve this by going through the niftiest car wash on the Pacific Rim.
You should be aware that Leeton is the home of the backyard sprinkler.
A quick survey around the prettiest streetscape you’ll ever come across will see hundreds of semi-naked residents disporting themselves under sprinklers……
With those spectacular results you speak of.
KJ.