Sunday, February 15, 2009

ON THE BIKE TRACK


Over the last decade, I have ridden my trusty old Malvern Star some thousands of kilometres, mainly along the North Carlton - North Fitzroy track and around Princes Park and Royal Park.
There is a certain comfort in the increasing familiarity with the tracks: there is also the joy of discovering changes to the scenery and asking why .
One of the most striking, also most enriching, changes has been the writing on the wall of the corner house with the long white wall, in that part of the track between Scotchmer Street and St. George's Road.

It used to be an ordinary side wall of a terrace house, adjacent to the bike track. Suddenly, it seemed, the wall was transformed into a gleaming white gallery, with some twenty beautifully scripted quotes from wise people and illustrated with pictures of Autumn leaves.
In one corner, an inscription gave a clue

In loving memory of Robina Steiner

6 April 1950 --- 29 Augusr 2005



Three years later, I know nothing more abut Robina Steiner or the person who created this wonderful memorial, but I have copied the quotations, I have been challenged and encouraged by them and each time I pass this wall I am delighted to see that no one has even dared to add or subtract from this extraordinary gift to the community.

In the coming weeks, I will add more of these wise sayings to this blog.

The frst saying appears above the memorial to Robina Steiner and can be seen in the picture above.

Walk around feeling like a leaf
Know you can tumble any second
Then decide what to do with your time

[Naomi Shinaz Nye]