There is a very healthy dislike of cats among some of the members and I thought I would share this story with you. I do not dislike them and have owned a few and abhor cruelty to animals. I just do not think they belong in Australia.

A friend of mine was brought up in Forbes. Anyone who knows it will know that it has a very pretty artificial lake as it's center piece. My mates dad, one time mayor and serious Catholic, waged a personal war on cats which regularly knocked off the waterfowl inhabiting the lakes.

He had a very rigid weekday routine. After starting his car in the morning he would put the cat trap in a bag and attach it to the exhaust while it warmed up. After the deed was done he would go to mass and then on to the old folks home where he would shave the inmates who needed shaving.

When he was terminally ill in hospital my mate and his brother and sister in law were discussing his life as he lay there, seemingly unconscious. The sister in law voiced the opinion that he was not such a saint, think of the hundreds of cats he had killed.

The old man opened his eyes and said " More like thousands Dearie!"

His son told me that he had asked the old man how he reconciled his faith and the killing of gods creatures.

His reply:

"They are not gods creatures son, they are the devil's work!"

His name is Blue and he has been inherited by my parents now. Half Red Cattle Dog half Bull Terrier. I'd rather him have several hundred acres to roam free in Queensland than be stuck in a shoebox yard in Perth. Plus I'm away on site half the time and there would be no-one to look after him. It's for his own good, I miss him lots.