Just saw the article in The Northern Daily Leader about “Tamworthisms” (NDL, Wednesday, July 16) so thought I would have my “two bobs worth”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As a youngster growing up in nearby Manilla there used to be the story about putting the bends in bananas.
Back in those days, the New England Highway used to go through the middle of Bendemeer, with the south-bound traffic needing to do a sharp right-hand bend, cross the bridge over the Macdonald River and then a sharp left hand bend before proceeding through the town towards Moonbi Ranges and Tamworth.
So the story goes that they used to grow straight bananas in Coffs Harbour and transport them by truck, south via the New England Highway through Armidale and Bendemeer – therefore “bend ’em here”.
So Bendemeer was famous for putting the bends in bananas!
A bit corny but as a youngster I thought it was funny.
Good luck with the call for contributions.
PS: My mates and I often did a “Peelie” when we were let loose on our P-plates in the ’70s.
Peter Hall
Canberra