#024-365 Bent

Hows this for getting a theme right? This tree is one of about three of this variety in the Redcliffe Show grounds, and the only one that has this configuration. I have asked the caretaker and he has no knowledge of the cause for the contortion. I have seen this tree festooned with crows on occasion, but we have been blessed with a fair amount of rain lately so the crows head out in the bush to get a better feed. They only seem to congregate in large numbers buring drought seasons.

The Redcliffe showgrounds is the site of The Redcliffe Show which like most regional show is diminishing over the years, Animal acts that used to draw the "Marks" are now frowned upon. so kids don't get to see Elephant, Lion, Camel etc that are used to people, and in my mind no longer appreciate them. I understand about the Animal Rights issues, but I spent many a year trying to drum up the courage to run away and "Join the Circus" guess I just didn't have enough Larsony to become a "Carney" lucky I guess cause then I might have graduated and become a politician (sorry about that rude word).

As I said however, I spent a lot of time hanging around though and I got to see some of the real affection those people had for the animals in their charge, and lets face it they drew the Marks they brought in the money, not many got treated badly, inspite of what the papers and Tv would have you believe. (Occasional Bad Apples excluded - and normally the Carney people sorted those out.) The Redcliffe show occurs about a month before the Brisbane Exhibition or Ekka (as it is called) so those Carneys that need to do running repairs stay on as it is less distance to travel for the Ekka, when they do, they used to peg out the Shetland Ponies in an array around that tree so that they could all gather under the shade in the heat of the day.