...we collected the sacks and set off in the ute, we were in the paddock busily at work stacking the filled sacks against the roadside fence when an opulent looking car drove past and pulled up suddenly at the sight of two people at work. Out stepped a rather austere looking woman "What do you think you are doing?" she asked.

"Gathering cow manure" I said.

"Well don't you think you've got rather a cheek? This is private property."

"Come to think of it I suppose we have really."

She didn't seem to know what else to say so she got back in the car and drove off without another word. ...

In the afternoon the phone went "Is that Miss Walling? I say I'm awfully sorry I didn't know it was you, do forgive me." It was Dame Melba's sister who had been lunching with her and recounting the story.

"Do you know on the way we saw two women pinching the cow manure out of one of your paddocks. I told them off."

"What were they like?" Dame Nellie asked, "Sounds as if it could have been Edna. Had she got red hair?" "Yes, I believe she had."

It made me feel positively royal that I was to be let off filching that manure just because it was me!