Disputes / fruits

I was born just under twenty six years ago in a hospital in Subiaco, Western Australia. Most of the first seven years of my childhood, however, were spent in a small town called Donnybrook. The word donnybrook means “a brawl or fracas”, “a scene of chaos” or “a heated quarrel or dispute”, a usage which comes from the Donnybrook Fair, held from the time of King John onwards in a Dublin suburb of the same name (Irish: Domhnach Broc, meaning Church of [Saint] Broc). The fair was notorious for drunkenness and violent disorder and was eventually banned in 1855.

Indeed, it is from these Donnybrook days that I remember my first experience with conflict. When I was six or seven some of our sheep escaped from our paddocks and into the neighbouring fields, the result of some poor fencing. Our neighbour, whose name was Mrs Strong, came over to our house and proceeded to confront my mum and dad and lambaste them hysterically and aggressively for their negligence. At some stage my mother reached out her hand in an effort to make peace, and gently placed her hand on Mrs Strong’s arm while pleading for calm. Her reaction was to shout wildly and to go straight to the police to report that mum had physically abused her. The police laughed (they knew the Strongs well) and refused to press charges. Throughout the incident I hid in my bedroom with my sister, Kate, and I distinctly remember that first ever taste of fear and horror as my utopian world (of goslings, of willow trees, of old barns and orange school buses) was invaded by this sudden barrage of hatred and hostility, right out there on my own porch, forcing itself upon my own parents.

I invite you now to enjoy the following, from the current Wikipedia entry on the Donnybrook of Western Australia, the place of my childhood:

DONNYBROOK (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)

Donnybrook is situated between Boyanup and Kirup on the South Western Highway, 210km south of Perth, Western Australia. The region is known for its apple production.

Apples
Donnybrook is long proud of its apple production and has many town icons bearing the fruit. Such can be seen on the main street, where apple shaped lights line the entrance of the Old Railway Station. These lights (six in total, on three posts) have in recent years been restored to their former luscious green glory. Atop the east Donnybrook hill lies an even larger tribute to the apple, a giant tower with an apple at the top. From the top of the apple visitors can view Donnybrook and its surrounding areas.

A yearly tradition in Donnybrook occurring in Easter is the Donnybrook Apple Festival. In recent years the festival has not occurred, but community interest assures it will continue again in the future. During the apple festival, the citizens of Donnybrook gather on Egan Park to celebrate the apple. The festival includes agricultural displays, sideshow alley and of course, the crowning of the Apple Queen.

The Apple Queen has long been a citizen of the Donnybrook/Balingup area, aged between 17 and 25 years. In recent years this has been changed to the title of "Ambassador" and males are now allowed to enter. During the contest, local girls compete for the title by attending dinners, doing community service and riding on giant apple shaped floats. From these floats they give apples, fruit and lollies to the children lining the closed-off section of the South Western Highway.

During the street parade the Catholic Church of Donnybrook blesses the holy apple, assuring a good harvest in the years to come.

The Shire of Donnybrook also had a mascot, Donny Applebrook. Donny was a giant green apple who promoted the festival. Donny has since disappeared from public life.


Tourism
Aside from apples, Donnybrook economy also relies on tourism. Many tourists pass through the town, admire the apples and sometimes enjoy apple treats at local cafes. Other visitors include backpackers from all over the world. Many of these backpackers earn money by picking fruit in the area.