Because no history had ever been written about the area now called ‘Murrays Flat’, I wrote to the Post on more than one occasion requesting information from any descendants of the early pioneers of that district.

Also, any photographs, especially of the cemetery; and also the Scout camp, which played such an important role for scouting in Goulburn and district for many years.

I received one reply and that was from Leone Morgan.

I and Linda Cooper spent many hours trying to source photographs from early Scouts. I even rang ex Scouts now living at Cootamundra and Batemans Bay … all to no avail.

The wonderful news is that two of Darby Murray’s descendants have bought the book: one from Hampshire in England, who sent me more of his history and we keep in touch via email; and one from Melbourne.

Lindsay Sidwell has been in contact with me and loves his copy of the book. Lindsay sent me some more information on Andy Murray.

Another previous owner of ‘Nokatunga’ (previously Cambria (Cumbria) Vale) was sent a copy of the book and sent me a lovely note through the Cheethams.

There are still some copies available at St Clair or the Marulan Historical Society and other places, but at this point in time I will not be publishing any more once the first edition is sold.

I have met many people who have bought the book and are thrilled that their families’ contribution to our early history has been recognised in print.

I heard parish priest Father Dermid McDermott saying in one of his recent homilies that if anyone requested My Way by Frank Sinatra to be played in church at their funeral, the answer would be no.

Football club songs and pop or rock music have been banned from funerals in Catholic churches in Australia under new guidelines distributed to priests and funeral directors.

I think the church is getting a bit over-sanctimonious with all these rules. Here is part of what an archbishop had to say when he banned all rock music etc:

A funeral should not be a "celebration" of the deceased's life, Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart said in the rules, but a final sacred farewell.

Celebrations of that life should be held at social occasions before or after the funeral, he said.

"The wishes of the deceased, family and friends should be taken into account ... but in planning the liturgy, the celebrant should moderate any tendency to turn the funeral into a secular celebration of the life of the deceased," the guidelines state.

"Secular items are never to be sung or played at a Catholic funeral, such as romantic ballads, pop or rock music, political songs, football club songs."

When I was a kid, I was told that God created us all as individuals and as long as we do not break the Ten Commandments or hurt anyone, we can be free to enjoy life etc.

I will be 50 years old this year. I started boxing at the age of 13 in 1980. I’d like to talk a little bit about my passion, boxing. 

Boxers everywhere will be a lot safer if they wear head gear. It’s compulsory to wear head gear in amateur boxing, but not in pro-boxing. It should be compulsory in pro-boxing as it could save a person’s life if they hit the canvas.

If a person’s head hits the canvas and they’re not wearing a head guard, it could end their life there on the canvas, it could give them brain damage.

While the rule remains open to whether or not a pro-boxer wears head gear, more people could get hurt.

I’ve seen a match where a fighter died 24 hours after the fight. He wasn’t wearing a head guard during the match. He was punched in the head and died from his injuries. 

I’ve also seen and know many fighters who have gone on to live long and healthy lives without having worn head guards, but I’d like to see everyone be protected from the risk of head injury.

I loved training kids, and would always look after them, not letting them get hurt. I loved watching them win boxing titles. It made me happy knowing that I had trained them. I would tell kids these day to put their head gear on for their safety.

Back in the old days, they used to knuckle 50 rounds and they would still get up and go. It’s different now. It’s a lot tougher. Today’s style is very tight, using lots of technique, as opposed to the old days of throwing hay makers.

The best boxer I ever fought, Grahame Francis (‘Spike’) Cheney, had a 10-kilo advantage on me. The referee stopped the match on the third round after he hit me with a left hook. Cheney went on to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games in 1988.

When watching the Danny Green/Anthony Mundine fight, I think the referee made a wrong decision.

He had Green, holding him back, and Mundine hit Green while the referee was supposed to be breaking them up. Mundine could have knocked Green out because the referee should have got between them and stopped both of them.

I think the referee should have called a five minute break to let Green recover from the unexpected punch. The fight went on and the referee said Green had won. I personally scored it as a draw. 

Thank you for reading this and I ask everyone to please consider the use of safety gear in all sports.