Friday, April 18

 Good Friday morning and we're thinking about getting organised for lunch. Marilyn has invited one of our neighbours (from Unit 5) to join us so that will be good.  The weather is no so good so we have yet to decide whether we will be dining al fresco under our new gazebo of around the table inside.  Unless thigs improve, I suspect we will be indoors.

The fellow next door (at Number 42) has just had a load of wood delivered, and dumped on his front lawn.  Before long a couple of young men, in farm trucks, will arrive and wheel it all around the back.  It's the third load this season.  Something similar happened last year and, when the first cold winds came, their fire went on and continued non-stop for the winter months.

Marilyn has decided  that he is a retired farmer and the farm is now being run by his sons who make sure Dad and Mum never get cold.  There is often a flag flying above the roof: blue with a white St George's cross and a white star at the end of each arm of the cross.  He has two flags, in fact.  The one flying today is very tattered but he has a new one which flies occasionally. I think it is the Eureka flag which, of course, signifies the Australian ideal of democracy and 'a fair go'.

 The other day, someone came and erected a large sign in the front yard encouraging passers-by to vote for the local ALP candidate.  I suppose it ties in with the flying of the flag and I suspect he and I might enjoy a conversation.  As it happens, I've never even seen him in the yard.  

THE QUIET MAN                                                                                     AUGUST 20, 2021

ABC RADIO, NORTHERN TASMANIA - TRANSCRIPT OF ANNOUNCEMENT ON FRIDAY, 13^th AUGUST, 2021, 9.06am.  ANNOUNCER: Leon Compton

We’ve just heard that police have been called to a remote farmhouse in Reedy Marsh, near Deloraine.  It seems they received a call from a distraught neighbour worried about strange activities at the adjoining house.  We have no details as yet but our reporter, April McLennan is on her way to the scene

ABC RADIO, NORTHERN TASMANIA, 9.59 am

COMPTON: Our reporter, April McLennan, has arrived at the farmhouse in Reedy Marsh and we now have a live cross:

Good morning, April.  What can you tell us about the happenings in Reedy Marsh this morning?

McLENNAN:       Good morning, Leon.  Things are quiet here at the moment.  There are two police cars parked beside the house where we believe an incident occurred earlier this morning.  The neighbour who reported her concerns, Mrs Shirley Boon, is unavailable for comment but I’m talking to another neighbour, Mrs Fiona Cresswell.

Good morning, Mrs Cresswell, thanks for talking to us.  I believe some of the community have concerns about what’s been happening at this house over the past few weeks.

CRESSWELL:        Good morning, April.  Yes, it’s terrible what’s been going on.  Reedy Marsh is a peaceful little place and we’re just not used to the sorts of goings on that we’ve had to live with recently.

McLENNAN:       Before we get into the details, Mrs Creswell, what can you tell me about the man who lives here?  I believe his name is Stewart.

CRESSWELL:        Well, he’s a quiet man, usually.  Wouldn’t say ‘Boo’ to a goose.  Keeps himself to himself.  I think he works in Lonny at one of those government offices: Centrelink, or somewhere.

McLENNAN:       So, what’s changed? What’s happened to cause your neighbour to ring the police?

CRESSWELL:        Well, it started a couple of weeks ago when Stewart arrived with a young girl in the car.  She only looked about 18 or 19, all tarted up wearing a short skirt and too much make-up.  She marched up to the front door and walked in as if she owned the place.  We were all worried about Stewart.  As I said, he’s a quiet man and we wondered what he had let himself in for.

I went across to see if everything was alright but he said everything was fine and it was just his niece visiting him for a few days.  I didn’t like to say anything but it sounded a bit suspicious to me.  I said to Shirley (that’s my neighbour, the one who rang the police this morning) that it’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it?

McLENNAN:       And, then what happened?

CRESSWELL:        Well, we didn’t see either of them for a couple of days.  The lights went on and off, as usual, but the television never went on and there was no sign of life.  I was worried, I can tell you, but we didn’t know what to do.

McLENNAN:       What happened then?

CRESSWELL:        We didn’t like to pry.  Well, you don’t, do you? But it was obvious that something wasn’t right.  I don’t think Stewart has been at work since his so-called ‘niece’ arrived.  He hasn’t been to the shop and his yard is starting to look un-cared for.  I’m sure she was up to no good, that girl.

McLENNAN:       Can you tell me what happened this morning which made Mrs Boon ring the police

CRESSWELL:        We were woken up early by screams and shouts coming from Stewart’s house.  It sounded like someone was being murdered.  Shirley rang me first and asked me what to do and I said she should ring the police straight away.  I wouldn’t put it past that girl to try to steal everything she could lay her hands on and then sneak out of the house and make her getaway.

McLENNAN:       Thank-you very much, Mrs Cresswell.  I now have Senior Sergeant O’Mullane of Tasmania Police with me.  Thank-you for talking to our listeners, Senior Sergeant.  What can you tell me about the incident here at the Reedy Marsh farmhouse this morning?

O’MULLANE:      Good morning, April.  We received a call at 7.13am this morning alerting us to a disturbance at River Road, Reedy Marsh.  A car was despatched from Deloraine Police Station and it arrived on the scene shortly after.  The two officers who were attending apprehended a suspect and that suspect is now in custody.

McLENNAN:       Can you give us any more details of the incident, Senior Sergeant?  Is there any other information about the suspect?

O’MULLANE:      I’m sorry, April.  I’m not able to make any further comment.  There will be a statement from the Police Media Liaison Unit shortly.

McLENNAN:       Well, there you are, Leon.  Everything is quiet here for the time being.  If I hear anymore, I’ll get back in touch.

 

STATEMENT FROM TASMANIA POLICE MEDIA LIAISON UNIT – AUGUST 13, 2021, 2.30pm

Police were called to a disturbance at a residence in Reedy Marsh, near Deloraine this morning.  The resident of the house reported to the police that he had been the victim of false pretenses and robbery. A young man, whose name is being suppressed, is helping police with their enquiries.  The young man, at the time of his arrest, was posing as a female.