LANDSCAPE GARDENERS!

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

LANDSCAPE GARDENERS!

An Aussie Escapade. (By 479.) WHEN our regiment settled down on the desert on the outskirts of Maadi just before Christmas, 1914, one found the earlier arrivals had decorated the sand in front of their officers' lines with an attempt at a garden. It was the outline of their State, done in stones and planted with shrubs and flowers begged or pinched—probably the latter. Our O.C. thought .we should not 'be outdone. He spoke to George, a plausible rascal. Could George do it? Yes, provided lie had two*of his troops as aides, and they were excused all parades and fatigues. That was agreed. George called on Mad Irish and myeelf. No one had the foggiest idea of tl-e outline of our State (Tasmania) but myself, the "new chum"— to that part of Aussie. With great show of energy we goo busy, put down markers, collected stones and made the initial effort at the frame- *************

SAME TO YOU The Page" wishes to acknowledge numerous Xmas greetings from branches of the R.S.A., from the Imperial Exservicemen's Club, Paimerston North, and from "Femleaf" and from many individual readers.

work. All this bustle until the brigade had marched out into the desert for the day. ~G e° with forethought, had tackled the 0.C., a great sport; told him we would need some "oof" to backsheesh the local Gippos to get earth, as no garden could last in sand. ® ric : the oc -> parted up with a quid, ihis George displayed with jrreat glee. Our display of energy lasted till "the last troops had vanished in the distance: we then mizzled off into Maadi to arrange for the earth, cadge the palms and plants, etc. We shortly landed In a delightfullv cool, clean little brasserie in the Maadi shopping centre, and had quart bottles of cool lager before us. We also had, later, a very good lunch and more lager. The quid was about smashed when we hustled back to the lines and became once again, a trinity of energy before the brigade marched in. Next day we would have been done for funds, but George "tickled" our troop leader and landed half a thickun." We told the O.C.—who observed there was not much change in the lo"-il scenery that we'd done some food spade work and everything was in train for the job. Same procedure as the day before followed, but we did shove in a palm or two, before we made for the quiet of the brasserie. A good day, but somehow George the head gardener, got rather full by about J p.m., and Irish was sparking well. They insisted on a donkey race around the square for drinks. I Refused, so was appointed "whipper in." When I got the donks going, in aJbout e third round George, in takire a curve, came a real purler on to his head. Out! For first aid. we carried him into a nearby chemist's. A nasty crack. Restoratives were applied and later a brandy or two, and then we had to prop George up to get him to camp. "Touch of sun" we later told the O.C. Trying to do too much! The 0.C., with a grin, suggested we'd better get on with the job or the war might be over. We'd no more cash and no chance of getting any. Two days' leisurely work and we had tn© State 9 a neat job. But there Was no soil under the sand and some of the plants we'd pinched were just branches. "Good work," observed the 0.C., and others praised it. We were decently modest. A few days, and despite watering, the plants began to wilt. This we explained was to be expected until they got a new rooting system. Our luck was in. A week or so after the brigade was shifted to Heliopolis!

♦.♦ + + GREY LYNN R.S. CLUB. Saturday, December 23 (to-night): Carnival dance at St. Columba Hall, Surrey Crescent. Cards for nondancers. Novelties. Indoor bowls closed down till January 5. Whist every Monday at St. Columba Hall.