After breakfast we went to the Roma Cattle Sales; a first for four of us. We started in the interpretative centre where we learned all about the history of cattle sales in the area. They then opened the gates and we were released into the cattle yards (well a terrace overlooking them) where we were allocated a guide. Jim knew a lot about the past and present cattle sales, he'd been there for most of his octogenarian life. It was then onto the traverses, the ramps above the pens, auctioneers and buyers. It was a tad distressing at first to see the cattle shifted from pens to weighing stations. However, the staff were very gentle, encouraging the cattle by waving a long length of rigid plastic pipe with a piece of plastic attached to the end. It's a long way from the early days when they either used cattle prods or beat the animals with lengths of plastic pipe.
Next we headed into the city for mornos at Bakearoma, which was just as good as it was three years ago. We all managed to choose something healthy, well almost, we are on holidays. We then took our busted inverter to the auto electrician who promised to have a look at it and get back to us. Before we headed back to the van, we decided to check out the supplies of inverters in town in case ours was cactus. After exhausting the immediate shops, we headed back to the van for more washing and lunch. Not long after, we received a call from the shop telling us than the inverter was indeed buggered. Wendy went back to the shop to retrieve it so we could get the dimensions to order another.
In the meantime, K&J, who have an identical inverter, kindly offered theirs as a replacement. They don't currently use theirs. We may have been able to order one but it all would have been very awkward. Thank you K&J.
After lunch and a rest, we went for a ride into town with Kev and Bob. Saw some interesting old buildings. It was then back to the van just in time for pre-dinner drinks; aka 'happy hour' at our van.
Dinner, blog, night-time routine then bed.
Jim, our tour guide at Roma Sales Yard
Some of the many cattle available for sale today
Not the most expensive average price per beast, but almost
Where we had mornos
Roma
Roma train station
Roma clocktower
Word has it that the top of this pub tower was, during the war, a watch tower. There are a number of them around town
The 3-D mural at the Roma Information Centre
Images from the 3D mural at the Roma Bungil Cultural Centre
Roma time capsule, to be opened 10 April 2067
Shady's Lagoon
Roma's largest Bottle Tree
Court House
Sunset at the Gun Club
