"There they all sit, paint fading and tattered, imprisoned in a cage for who knows how long," bemoans John. "I suspect they are likely to date from mid-last century."

Cooma's Helen Crawford, formerly of Bombala, explains that the figurines were fashioned mid-last century by Charlie Pierce who lived in Maybe Street, Bombala.

"He made all the comic cartoon characters like Ginger Meggs, Popeye, Louie the Fly," reveals the 77-year-old. "You name it, he made it."

David Goodyer of the Bombala & District Historical Society says Charlie was ''extraordinarily clever with his hands'' and also made the town's big archways for events like the 1927 'Back to Bombala' parade and the 1934 visit from the Duke of Gloucester.

According to David, "When old Charlie died, the figurines were auctioned off with most snapped-up by the Bombala RSL Club. About 30 years ago they were moved to the pool into a secure fenced-in compound.''

When, a couple of years ago, Popeye and friends were looking a bit worse for wear, the local Mens Shed stepped in to paint them. "We had to research all the figurines to find their original colours, it was quite a job," explains David.

Several readers, including Colleen Jane Hepburn and Helen Crawford, believe that while Charlie's characters remain locked up to prevent theft and vandalism, there should at least be a sign to highlight their origins.

You akubra-clad columnist wholeheartedly agrees. In fact, following their recent exposure on these pages, the impounded figurines have become a tourist attraction, with reports from several Bombala insiders that there has been a "marked increase this summer in travellers stopping for a selfie with Popeye and friends". Who'd have thought.

This column's recent exposé on Four Mile Hut ('Gone but not Forgotten', December 5) prompted a flood of correspondence about the mountain hideaway that was razed in last January's fires.

Graham Williams of Burra, who has sheltered in the hut during cross country ski adventures, reports that many years ago the hut saved the lives of two friends. ''They were caught in a blizzard and the smell of the fireplace actually helped them find the hut and take shelter."

Meanwhile, Max Rowe of Hawker sent in a photo of an equally rustic corrugated iron hut built by his father as a shepherd's hut circa 1935 near Bulls Peaks Creek on the Snowy Plain in northern Kosciuszko National Park. "He took his sheep up to the high country from about November to April to graze the abundant sweet grass on snow leases (pre-park)," explains Max.

In the photo, which Max believes was "probably taken in the late 1940s", Mt Jagungal (2061m) is visible in the background, so too a white bag hanging from a dead tree limb on the right hand side. "That would have contained a recently butchered sheep carcass," explains Max. "In dad's day it was fried chops for breakfast, lunch and dinner."

Unfortunately, 'Rowes Hut' was destroyed by the big snowfall of 1964.

This column's recent feature on the ring tree at Hall Cemetery ('Pushing up Daisies', November 7) prompted Frank Bergersen of Kambah to dig up a photograph he'd taken of an unusually-shaped tree at Lake George 25 years ago.

''Until your article, I was unaware of the existence of ring trees so had simply labelled this tree which I photographed at Silver Wattle near the south-western end of the lake as 'holy tree batman','' reveals Frank.

Regular readers may recall that to mark the 200th anniversary of the renaming of the ephemeral body of water from Weereewa to Lake George last year, this column went in search of a ring tree at the opposite end of the lake with Ngambri elder Shane Mortimer ('A Poignant Milestone', August 15, 2020). According to Shane, the branches on that particular tree were trained into a circle for observation of the moon. "When the full moon appears in the centre of the specially trained branch you can be guaranteed it's on the meridian and from there get your bearing to the stars," he explained.

Ring trees were also created as markers for a range of other navigational and ceremonial purposes. "Weereewa was a major feature along the route that First Nation people followed for centuries south to the surrounding ranges," says Frank. "It's not out of the question that a ring tree would be created as a marker along this route."

I wonder how many more of these historic treasures remain growing around the lake and further afield.

With more and more Canberrans out enjoying the summer weather, a barrage of worthy submissions for 'Simulacra Corner' have lobbed into my inbox, including this ripper (see facing page) which stopped Ken Watt of Gordon in his tracks while he was scrambling at low ride along the rock shelf from Middle Beach, Merimbula.

"On first sighting 'Chris the Sheep' came to mind," reports Ken. "Perhaps it's a monument to Chris and very snappy work by the elements to create it." For the uninitiated, Chris was, of course, the Mulligans Flat merino ram who shot to international stardom after being shorn of a record amount of wool in 2015 (and died in October 2019).

The eyewitness account in this column of trees 'exploding' during the last summer's bushfire at Pretty Beach prompted Peter Marshall of Reidsdale to recount his own harrowing observations about trees exploding during fire near Braidwood.

"As last summer's Currowan fire approached our place, we started hearing crashing of lines of trees," recalls Peter. "At first we thought it was the bulldozer pushing tree rows to make the containment lines but then we realised that trees were exploding and falling along the fire front.

"There were weird acoustics. Sometimes it sounded like dozens of jet engines were aimed at us. Then the wall of sound would swing focus away, which meant we could hear individual explosions and crashes."

After the fire, when Peter walked along the boundary of his property with Monga National Park, "all the big trees were gone, there was nothing left of them but long straight orange lines on the ground - the baked clay of termites in trees hollow centres".

"Some of the smaller trees, especially those in the cooler zones, are resprouting, but the big trees are just not there anymore," explains Peter who would love to know if anyone knows just why trees 'explode'. Is it ''air pressure in the hollows or steam generation, chimneying or growth stresses in the timber?''.

"Tiger snakes haven't completely deserted Lake George and surrounds," reports Bill Burke of Yarralumla. "About a year ago we had a 'pub with no beer' type experience when we turned up at Some Cafe at Collector desperate for caffeine. The espresso machine was out of action because a tiger snake was lodged in the water pump. A local snake catcher was summoned and the world was put back on its axis. A very Aussie experience." Indeed.

Clue: A bridge of a different type

Degree of difficulty: Medium

Last week: Congratulations to Rod Horne of Bywong who was first to correctly identify last week's photo as the bridge over the Tuross River on the Princes Highway, just south of the turn-off to Tuross Head. Rod reports the bridge is a favourite for 'Eclipse', his border collie who "pricks up her ears about 10 minutes before we get there and then dances around, barks madly and wags her tail as we go over it. It doesn't matter which direction or time of day or night, she has been like this for a decade. This is the only bridge she does it on". Rod just beat Geoff Thompson of Campbell, Any Hogan of Bonython and Ian McKenzie of Fisher to the prize. The clue related to Hector McWilliam, a 1920s property developer who planted over 200 Norfolk pines at Tuross Head.

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and suburb to tym@iinet.net.au The first email sent after 10am, Saturday January 23, 2021, wins a double pass to Dendy, the Home of Quality Cinema.

We've all heard of Australia Rock at Narooma, but it seems the ACT has its own, albeit much smaller, version.

While recently hiking down Stockyard Spur, the walking track connecting Mt Gingera to Corin Dam, Shay Simpson noticed this "rock in the shape of Australia". Now, if you're thinking that the Apple Isle was a later addition, you'd be right. "I gratuitously added the Tassie bit using nearby rock," confesses Shay.

Shay also reports "there were a few 'friendly' March flies at the top of Mt Gingera and the wildflowers were amazing - a riot of billy buttons, bluebells, everlastings, daisies and grasses in bloom". Sound divine. Who needs to go to the Snowies when we have the Brindies on our doorstep.

CONTACT TIM: Email: tym@iinet.net.au or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick