WE LIVE in a relatively small community in the Highlands where doubt and gossip can sometimes create perceptions that quickly become entrenched as fact in the minds of some people.
You’ve all heard amazing stories peddled around the pubs, clubs and community groups of wondrous things told with such conviction it is hard not to believe them.
And once unleashed, an interesting rumour is difficult to dispel, or as someone once said, “trying to correct a rumor is like trying to un-ring a bell.”
THERE was a remarkably good movie in the cinemas not so long ago called Doubt which beautifully illustrates the power of gossip, community perceptions and the damage it causes.
The story revolves around a nun who has some suspicions about a priest.
Late in the movie that same priest delivers a stunning sermon to illustrate the danger of spreading gossip.
His sermon tells of a wise old priest who suggests a gossiping woman climb up onto her roof and cut a pillow with a sharp knife.
She did as instructed then went back to the old parish priest.
“Did you cut the pillow with a knife?” He asked.
“Yes, father.”
“And what were the results?”
“Feathers everywhere,” she said.
“Now I want you to go back, and gather up every last feather that flew out on the wind.”
“It can’t be done,” she said “I don’t know where they went. The wind took them all over.”
“And that,” said the priest, “Is what happens when you gossip.”
WORKING in local government for many years I have certainly heard some amazing yarns from bewildered folk befuddled by the current rumour percolating around the hairdressing salons and coffee shops of the Highlands.
Like when the Council was building the East Bowral reservoir up along Old South Road in 2006.
This was the same time the leisure centre proposal was alive and well. Someone started a rumour that the Council had already begun building the leisure centre up on the side of that hill near Retford Park and no amount of talking would convince some of the people coming into the council otherwise.
I AM told that in the old Bowral Council days there was a wonderful rumour that had some locals convinced Bowral Council dog catchers were in the habit of taking stray dogs to a special gas chamber at the Merrigang Street Gas Works. Apparently many people weren’t game to take their dog out of the backyard as the rumour gained legs.
ANOTHER urban myth involved the payment counter at the old Bowral Council. Someone had spread the rumour that the staff had put in a trap door leading to a dungeon under the building. When somebody was complaining too much the staff would pull a lever and get rid of them. As strange as it may seem at least one poor misguided soul believed the rumour and started sending her payments and complaints by mail, fearful that the Council staff would pull the lever on her.
LET’S finish with a tale from our old mate Dudley to illustrate how easily a good rumour can start out of nothing.
“Bloody hell I’ve has a rotten day, Clyde,” moaned Dudley, sinking his fifth beer in quick succession.
“Couldn’t take a trick and now I’m in trouble with Grace again.”
“How come, mate?” asked Clyde trying to console his old friend.
“It’s a long story, but the rot set in when I was milking the cow before breakfast. Flies were everywhere.
“I’d just started and the cow kicked over the bucket with her right leg. So I leg roped her and carried on.
“Then, you wouldn’t believe it? She got the bucket again with the free left leg. So I tied it down as well and continued milking her. Just about when I’d finished, the old bastard swished her tail and knocked the bucket clean away from my legs.
“Milk was everywhere. I needed to milk her out and had run out of rope, so took off my belt and tied her tail to a rafter.
“You wouldn’t believe it, but there I was standing behind the cow with both her legs tied up. Her head in the bail and her tail tied to the rafter, when my pants fell down. At that very moment, Grace walked in.”
*Geoff Goodfellow has lived his life in the Southern Highlands, works for Wingecarribee Council and is well known in local sporting and social circles.
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