THE marriage of an ancient odd couple – a pair of 100 year-old shearing sheds - was celebrated in operatic excellence on the often grassless plains of Towaninny South near Wycheproof at the weekend.
It was a project of respected Melbourne Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr Murray J. Stapleton and his wife, Joy who stick-by-stick salvaged a pre-loved but unwanted woolshed from Sydenham on Melbourne’s outskirts and relocate it to their northern farming land “Kulwin Park”, nestled by the now decommissioned Waranga Mallee Channel system on the Avoca Floodplain in the Mallee’s southeast.
Welcoming friends and neighbours to the special occasion Dr Stapleton dedicated the union of these two rustic relics in memory of his mentor and champion, his deceased uncle Charles Elston and his wife Doris who previously farmed Kulwin Park since the early 1950’s.
An executive director also of the Melbourne-based concert production company Cantor Productions, Dr Stapleton engaged his guests in a fitting ceremony led by internationally renowned Chinese-born singer, Shu-Cheen Yu who sang three pieces of opera. Dr Stapleton dedicated the music to past shearers of the two sheds, farming mentors Uncle Charlie and neighbour Hughie Trewin and to his future farming partners.
Dr Stapleton who owns almost 5000 acres of Towaninny Plains country said the restoration of these two century old facilities was “not a matter money” but a labour of love to match together in architectural harmony a pile of sticks, timber and rusted iron dumped in a heap on the ground from three laden semi-trailers and existing and still functioning 110 year-old Elston Woolshed.
This task was entrusted to a pair of local lads – former North Melbourne footballer and builder Corey Jones and Wycheproof football legend Eddie McNicol.
Dr Stapleton praised them for their patience and understanding when others believed an excavator and a hole in the ground could have been a more easy solution.
More than 50 attended the celebration including a busload of city dwellers many of whom were overwhelmed by the historic and cultural artefacts enjoyed by their country cousins and, who now can boast having their own opera centre adorned with stained glassed windows.