Cut the Noise

2 Clear the stumbling blocks

I made a couple of last phone calls then stood up to stretch, glad to be done with work for a while. I had a big trip ahead of me this morning. My sister, Sammy, was getting married to a country boy from a little town that sits on the Victoria–New South Wales border called Tocumwal. The wedding would be held in his hometown, and quite a number of the guests would be making the four-hour drive up the Hume Highway from Melbourne for the celebration.

I was looking forward to getting away, and to the drive. It seemed like a long time since I had made a big road trip, and I was excited by the prospect. If I left in the next half hour, I should arrive in good time for lunch. I was meeting Sammy at 1 o’clock. The weather was tipped to be perfect, with clear skies and 27 degrees. I could relax and enjoy the fresh air, the scenery and the open road.

The trip through rural Victoria was spectacular. Big open spaces, the changing landscape burnished by the morning sunlight, majestic gum trees swaying in the wind. You would be hard pressed to find scenery more resonant of country Australia.

The last few kilometres of winding road told me the New South Wales border was only moments away. The feeling of exhilarating freedom and the temptation to accelerate through the curves were tempered by the sad clutches of dusty flowers and crosses on the side of the road marking where tragedy had struck. Sobering thoughts to check my excitement.

Finally the sign, ‘Welcome ...