Inarrabri

12 / 16

Craic with Craig
12 iNarrabri Magazine March 25th - April 8th
lion - rodney onus
in homage to the SMH’s “Date with Kate”, iNarrabri
Magazine brings you the “Craic with Craig”...
a new section where a local will be interviewed
about their involvement with a voluntary club...
first cat off the rank is narrabri Lion, rodney onus,
who was kind enough to waive his exorbitant fee
Please note “Craic” is a term for news, gossip, fun, entertainment,
and enjoyable conversation, particularly prominent in Ireland...
Email your suggestions for “Craic with Craig”, to
Interview by Craig Jollow
Rod, you have been a member of
the Narrabri Lions Club for 10
years, what has been your great-
est achievement thus far?
Being allowed to stay in the club...
I’m surprised I haven’t been kicked
out yet... and getting involved in
as many activities and projects
as possible. The highlight this far
is working on projects along side
Ross Panton, who did so much for
the town.
No doubt you felt you owed
your community a fair amount
so what was your motivation in
joining?
I used to come to Narrabri on
weekends when I was younger
and found it to be a good town. I
ended up marrying a local girl and
moved here... someone had to put
a decent bloodline into Narrabri.
Nothing has changed, it is still a
great town and with me joining
the Lions and being involved the
town can only get better... Plus I
was told by Rob Gilbert that both
my knee caps would be smashed
if I didn’t join... I have found that
it is a great way to do community
service without having a criminal
record attached.
The Lions can be seen at the
monthly markets ‘cooking up a
storm’ but what other activities
have you been involved in over
the years?
The construction of the Narrabri
West Lake path, Cooma Oval ki-
osk and cemetery toilets. Improv-
ing the Northern approaches to
town, as well as the netball court
improvements... Youth of the Year,
which involved a memorable trip
to Port with Gilbo... supporting
school presentation nights and of
course... clubbing seals with my
Glenn McGrath autographed bat.
And the main projects this year?
Ask the President... we will prob-
ably have to go out and mow his
lawn and tidy up his yard. But I be-
lieve this will involve ongoing im-
provements to the netball courts
and Northern approaches (rain
would help), the cemetery fence
(when it cools down a bit) and
shaving protestors armpits.
How has regular camaraderie
with other like-minded blokes
assisted you in overcoming your
naturally shy demeanour?
Before joining the Lions I was
an introvert who couldn’t watch
Home and Away... now I am a so-
cial moth, I mean butterfly, who
still won’t watch Home and Away.
The interaction with other people
who you don’t see every day has
brought me out of my shell. When
I first joined I cowered in the cor-
ner, but with a lot coaxing, they
got me out of my shell and I don’t
consider myself shy anymore.
When you’re in the company of
elder statesmen like Big Bob Per-
cival and photogenic Vince Haire
it’s not hard to feel comfortable.
What do you see as the main ad-
vantages of joining such a com-
munity group?
You can make a difference to our
town without it becoming another
job... and the social side is a lot of
fun. It gives you a reason to meet
up with people who become your
friends and do some great things
in our town and further afield.
If you had a message for anyone
out there keen on becoming a
‘Lion’ what would it be?
Don’t hold back, a lot of members
are well known, approachable and
don’t bite. If you think you can am-
bush antelope, fight off warthogs
or lay under a tree all day, you’re
in. Seriously, just approach any
member... or call our President Tim
Tapscott 0427 922 136 or Publicity
Officer Vince Haire 0427 922 136.
Get ready for the races. Book today.
$20 Spray Tans
$25 Shellac (file & polish)
4/115 Maitland St Narrabri  6792 3538 Contact John Burgess  0423 690 586
www. johnburgessphotography.com.au
Your local wedding specialist
John Burgess PhotograPhY
childcare vacancies
Qualified Narrabri Educator Greg Parsons has
child care vacancies Monday to Friday for
children under school age and also has before
and after school and vacation care vacancies for
2015. To organise an interview, call Greg directly
on 0419 245 329.
KCL Family Day Care offers
affordable, quality child care,
with hourly rates, not daily.
Please contact 6721 1811
for more information.
We went to : Narrabri Golf Club
We ate : Roasted baby lamb with red wine & rosemary gravy
accompanied by oven baked vegetables, organic, hand-shelled
garden peas and mint jus
We drank : Beer of course!
Rod wore : Hiswiffe Fashion Productions