Scone Bypass Community Walk

Locals getting ready at the beginning of the walk

Today we did the Scone Bypass Community Walk to celebrate the completion of the town bypass. For years, the town's main street has been blighted by thundering freight lorries coming through both day and night. Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Michael McCormack, said," This five-kilometre bypass will improve road safety and reduce travel times for freight and long-distance traffic, by providing an alternative route around the town". The townspeople were invited to walk across the bridges of the bypass as part of the opening ceremony.

 

I walked the bypass with Janie and Andrew

 

Fortunately, there was a slight breeze on this beautiful morning

 The pristine road stretched out before us, as we crossed the bridges.

Lots of people joined in the walk, and we got to enjoys the views from up high

 This is the Scone Golf Course, taken from the bypass bridge

 

The Smoking Ceremony

As part of the opening ceremony, there was a traditional Aboriginal Smoking ceremony. This is an ancient custom among some Aboriginal Australians that involves smouldering various native plants to produce smoke which they believe has cleansing properties, and the ability to ward off bad spirits. This particular ceremony was to ensure the safety of travellers on the road, and to ward off any evil spirits that may harm them.

 

During the ceremony, he fed the leaves into the fire and wafted the smoke around

 

Michael McCormack MP, and the local dignitaries attending the ceremony

The walk was a lot of fun, although, I have to admit, I only walked one way, and didn’t complete the return journey as there was a bus for the elderly and infirm. Sometimes being older is an advantage. But well done to Janie and Andrew. Not only did they complete the walk, but they did so after having been to a CrossFit session earlier that morning.

Elizabeth Coughlan