Original idea by Matt Collopy 1980, signs by Mark Nolan, Jon Frederico, Marc Flipo. Photo by Mark Nolan, February 2012.

This sign sits at a hairpin bend on the winding road through “The Spur” from Healsville to Narbethong, East of Melboune. In 1980, an old friend of ours, Matt Collopy, joked about the sign as we passed by on our way up to Lake Eildon. Matt wondered at the time what had been wrong with St Ronan in the first place; whether he had just been suffering from the flu or if it had been something more sinister. Over the decades that followed, we always said that we should erect a series of conversational signs to entertain passing motorists.

We never did.

A group of 12-13 old school mates and other friends had often made the 2+ hour journey to the Courtney’s house on the water’s edge in Bolte Bay (Lake Eildon) for weekends away, but sadly, a few years ago the house was sold. It was the end of an era.

The final weekend away with the old crew was planned for February 2012, so Jon Frederico, Marc Flipo and I decided to erect some signs to keep St Ronan company, and to give the others a laugh during their final drive up to the house at Eildon.

So the original joke/idea finally came to life. These signs are long gone now, but the moment is now immortal (Like St Ronan himself, unless the flu finally finished him off!).

Finally, a big thankyou to John Courtney, his parents and extended family, for their gracious hospitality that extended over 30 years, with great times and laughs up at the lake. You made us all feel like family, and we will all be forever grateful.