To be a good tourist takes practice and now, while Covid-19 is keeping us within range of home, its the perfect time to do that.
It's also school holidays, better still.
How well do you know Benalla?
Backyard chooks linked to Salmonella outbreak
It's funny how many people forget to look or explore locally yet rave about their overseas or interstate travels.
Do they suddenly adopt an interest in history, people, places and new experiences just because they are away?I walked into town on Saturday past North East Artisans where I was amused to see Dr Buckley's friends showering together in an amazing painting.
There are no animals in the pet shop, they are all inside, so I crossed the road to see what the glamorous models in Polished were wearing.
The Conversation: Restoring a gem in the Murray-Darling Basin: The success story of the Winton Wetlands
Then on past Millers where I read the tea towel messages, until I got to the museum and Information Centre by the lake.
Unfortunately it is closed until further notice, but a box outside has a range of regional information.
Of special interest was the up-to-date list and map of Benalla street art.
There are now 62 paintings, five new additions last year.
From the Archives – July 1 2020
I sat in a cave seat at the ceramic mural and read from my brochure stash.
The mural was built as a community art project and took 27 years to complete.
I love its visual symbols of the ecology, air, water and people.
First, I found the glass ceiling above the forge box but the overcast day didn't light up its magic, then Michael Lunig's glazed image Man and Birds above the fossil chair.
Teacher dresses up to greet students
Pity I didn't have children with me to find the thongaphones.
How Aussie is this, two sets of sculptured pipes tuned to pentatonic scales and designed to be played by a pair of thongs!
Then I walked past the recently completed splash park, which my three-year-old granddaughter will enjoy next summer, which I understand will be free to use.I had the outdoor Rotary gym to myself.
Benalla to benefit from $2.5 million investment
I found the original Broken River crossing and some embedded old broken china.
I contemplated the Aboriginal garden before rounding the art gallery side of Lake Benalla, under the steel girder railway bridge.
Look it up, at time of construction in 1875, it was the longest metal girder bridge in Australia.
During my lakeside walk I found around nine rocks with brass plaques.
Covid spiking in Victoria
I will give you a tip, they are on and off the track and you need to look high and low.
As the gallery is closed, I met a friend at the historically interesting Bootmakers Shop in Arundel St.
The notice outside tweaked my interest in Ned Kelly, prompting another day out.
I had a great time for the price of a cup of coffee (and a dress from Polished).
If you would like to send a letter to the editor on this, or any subject, click this link
7°C