Happenings About Lightning Ridge

Here is the Second instalment to many informative articles.
I hope you enjoy.

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Report No.2, post-Easter 2003
Gossip and Happenings from Lightning Ridge.

Some very interesting facts can be reported here today. You may remember that in our previous article we
referred to the armed hold-up at the local tobacconist shop in the middle of town. A single perpetrator held up
the elderly shop keeper by creating a noisy commotion outside the back door of the premises. When challenged
from inside the building by the shop keeper, the rogue seemingly fled from the scene, leaving the lit flashlight
on the ground, away from the building.

When the tobacconist rushed out to get the flashlight as evidence and for fingerprinting by the police, he found
that this all had been a ruse and that the perpetrator simply had remained hidden, waiting for the door to open.

In the ensuing scuffle, the shop keeper wrestled the gun from the criminal, but found it to be without
bullets when he tried to show his feelings towards the perp by repeatedly pulling the trigger with the gun facing
in the attacker's general direction.

"Have you noticed how shotguns look bigger out here- - ???????" Bob Ellis

We did say in the last report that this case will come to a quick resolve and it has, not only quickly,
but also with a surprise ending. One of the nicest young locals, only 19 years of age, very well liked
and respected because of his parents, and his friendly and polite manners, has actually come forward
and claimed responsibility for the assault.

As this case is now going before the courts it is not possible to assume what he was thinking,
or what could have possibly possessed him at the time.

Conversely, the support for his parents by the local population, even by the various shop keepers,
is surprisingly strong, with one mother saying something like, "there but for the grace of God, ...."

On a brighter note, there were several thousand visitors at the Ridge over the Easter holidays.
Thankfully, the weather was brilliant and the crowds enjoyed colourful events such as the Australian
Great Goat Racing Championships, the Horse Races and the all-day Rodeo.

The total expenditure for the weekend by the various committees was in excess of $100 000, spent in
order to entertain the visitors and locals alike. The unofficial theme was "lifting the spirit", after the 2 year
drought, sluggish economy, and downturn in opal production.

Oh yes, the famous racing goat 'Yibida Yibida' this year won the Championships, taking out the price
money and the title. The organizers had made sure that there was no cameraman or photographer near
the finishing line this time to cause this publicity seeking goat to pull up again to pose for the camera.

The wheelie bin races were a big hit with the spectators, with the gaily coloured 'Opal Cave' bin taking
out the title. Conversely, there was a touch of controversy when the owner of the Opal Cave also entered
another bin, named the Osama Bin. On this particular bin Herman had painted the face of the World's
No. 1 fugitive, complete with blue coloured turban, sunken cheeks, large ears, and long straggly beard.
It was a great likeness.

To Herman's surprise several of the organizers implored him to take the Osama bin and securely hide
it out of sight. Apparently there was somebody among the spectators who looked exactly like the picture
on the bin, including the blue turban and straggely beard.

Naturally, Herman sought out this gentleman to verify that this in fact was not the infamous Osama Bin Laden
himself. He could see himself performing a 'citizen's arrest' and bring fame and fortune to the town, and more
importantly, to himself.

Turns out that this Osama look-alike was an Australian born Sikh from near Coffs Harbour, a coastal town
north of Sydney. Next thing, Herman is pushing the Osama wheelie bin up the race course in the main street,
with this gentleman, the Osama bin Laden look-alike standing in the bin, waving to the thousands of spectators.
It looked like a victory lap, to the great delight of all the crowd. It was the most photographed event of the whole
weekend.

The point the Sikh was making to the crowd is, that despite the September 11 attack not all people wearing
turbans and beards are terrorists. Particularly in Australia, where we have been blessed with a genuine
multicultural society.

On another topic, the pricing of opal still seems to be a bit of a mystery, not only the tourists and visitors to the place,
but frequently also to the miners themselves.

In the next Report, due in a few days time, we'll try to throw some light on this subject, to help you with
making informed decision when buying your opals.

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