The climate of this part of Australia means that the average house yard requires mowing nearly every week at some times of the year. Mower man is an almost vanishing breed, in that many of the new estates in our local area need a ride on mower to keep the grass down. Also, he is smoking, a much less socially accepted past-time and his daggy hat, shorts and thongs mean he is not taking the safety precautions that many modern citizens use. The dog ( not quite so wild dog), following in his wake, barking and being ignored due to the sound of the mower is also a common feature of the recent past.