A series of thoughts about community prompted by a recent trip through the north eastern Goldfields and Murchison.
Wedge Tailed Eagles feeding off the carcasses of kangaroos were the main feature of the drive between Leinster and Mt Magnet, so when we came across the tiny township of Sandstone it was a welcome change. The mass of white roses along the wide main street contrasted with the red dirt and immediately announced that there was something different about this place.
For a period of six years from 1907 Sandstone had a population of 6,000 to 8,000 people. It had four hotels, four butchers, many cafes, stores and business houses, as well as a staffed police station and two banks. During this boom period, in July 1910 the railway came to the town, however by 1919 only 200 people remained. The population has continued to dwindle.
As we drove slowly through the deserted streets we spotted someone waving to us and heard a voice call out, "come and have a cup of tea". Lady Di, as she is affectionately known, has lived in Sandstone for 12 years and three days a week runs a sausage sizzle in the park, cooking up her own recipe of herbs and spices to provide a hearty welcome for the visitors who pass by on a regular basis.
A cup of coffee and a chat with Lady Di was a welcome relief from the long, hot drive and gave us a picture of a community that was struggling to survive, but was welcoming of strangers, and keen to make its contribution to the wider community of travellers.
Communities that build a strong spirit of welcome and acceptance of its own are wonderful, but communities that welcome strangers and contribute to the lives of those outside have an element that is unforgettable. Every community needs a Lady Di who is prepared to put up with the heat and flies to offer a welcome to outsiders, but I think all of us need to have that sort of commitment to reach out beyond ourselves to welcome strangers.
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