Around the traps

Dick, Gus and Laurie had ridden their bikes out to the dropbar which was next to Hugh Smith’s property on McEwen Rd, just south of the Girgarre-Byrneside intersection.

Hugh, Penny’s father, came to the rescue with some chaff bags and with great difficulty, they were able to get their redfin haul back on their bikes to Kyabram which provided fish meals for their families for a long, long time.

Ear shattering sounds

Members of the public have told Traps the mystery explosions which have been shattering the nightly peace in Kyabram over the past three weeks are fireworks. Very loud fireworks.

And they have evidence to back their claims.

One resident on a morning walk found a thick container of cardboard with six cylinders on its outside in Dawes Rd near the Kyabram Club on Monday morning of last week after some explosions across Kyabram the previous night.

It was about size of beer can and carried the words The Brick Fireworks.

This has been handed in to the Kyabram police.

The night prowlers were at it again on Saturday morning, shattering the peace at 5am with a short sharp barrage of booms in the Tehan-Saunders St area.

Another resident also found evidence the next morning.

There were more explosions just before 1am on Tuesday morning of this week.

The culprits obviously aren’t aware of the consequences if nabbed because fines can total $96,000 (yes you read right) or even a jail term for using illegal fireworks.

Be sure to check your details

A local, law-abiding businessman is pulled over by the police.

The reason, the constable explains, is the “your car is unregistered”.

This is some surprise as the rego is due each November and paid by his business.

The usual question: ‘‘What happens now.’’

The answer: “You cannot drive your car.’’

The businessman eventually gets home and discovers no payment had been made.

Then it’s onto VicRoads where he is told, ‘‘Your renewal was sent electronically to your Gmail account along with the reminders.’’

The businessman has no recollection of setting up an electronic connection.

Problem one: Businessman does not have a Gmail account. What was the address?

Answer: ‘‘Cannot release over the phone for privacy reasons.’’

‘‘A text was sent to your mobile phone ending in 731.’’

Problem two: Mobile phone does not end in 731.

So it’s all back in the businessman’s court.

Now he needs a roadworthy to register the car which is arranged.

Then he is off to VicRoads, where he is told “You need an appointment and the next one available is in mid-April.”

VicRoads officer must have seen dismay on the businessman’s face and advised him he could fit him in in three days time.

All solved with a cost of around $ 400, a couple of trips to VicRoads and exercise for three days.

Now, the tip out of all of this is “know your dates”.

There is an old saying ‘‘Life wasn’t meant to be easy’’ which Traps suspects the businessman has now embraced.

But he did raise another interesting scenario with his experience.

What would be the result if the same thing happened if his house burnt down and he was under the opinion it was insured?

Some of this modern-day technology is not cracked up to be as good as its supposed to be.

Kemp’s Ky connection

Brady Kemp, who kicked five goals in Carlton’s AFL loss to the Western Bulldogs last Friday night, has a Kyabram connection.

He is the son of former St Augustine’s teacher Grant Kemp, a vey capable sportsman who played football for Kyabram and cricket with the Fire Brigade Cricket Club.

The Kemps live in Echuca these days.

Welcome falls

More welcome rain.

Luckily, though not the amounts being experienced in other parts of the country, but a handy follow-up to the 23mm (almost an inch) the previous week in a long, hot summer without much rain.

The Kyabram research station registered 11mm last Friday into Saturday to take Kyabram’s 2025 total to 57mm.

Square dinkum

G’day

I did my first nude painting yesterday ... the neighbours weren’t happy, but the front door looks fantastic.

Hooroo!!!