Most mornings, Michael O’Brien walks to Lake Benalla with a thermos of coffee to sit, relax and watch the world go by.
The setting, under his favourite tree, is shaded and peaceful, and inspired him to collate some of his poems to share with the public.
When Michael and his wife, Joan, moved to Benalla four years ago, they were immediately drawn to the lake.
And with a love for poetry, it was only a matter of time before the Broken River and the wildlife that call it home made its way into his notebook.
“We moved to Benalla to be closer to our daughter and grandkids,” Michael said.
“When we arrived, we were taken by the beautiful gardens and lake.
“So we started going down each day to have a drink and watch the passers-by.”
While Joan is sadly finding it difficult to get out of the house, Michael still heads down each day.
“I find that location so inspirational,” he said.
“I’ve got to know a lot of the people who walk past. Some wave. Some stop and say hi.
“I get the chance to stop and reflect on things. Being older now, I’ve seen some massive changes over the decades.
“And it’s so nice to watch the bird life and the people with their dogs or out on the lake in their kayaks.”
Michael said he needed to be connected to nature, and his time by the lake provided the perfect opportunity.
After a year or so, Michael realised his notebook was starting to run out of space, and friends and family floated the idea of publishing a book of poetry.
That is when he decided to collate his first book, Poems from the lake.
With the help of friends, he had it printed by Sovereign Press in Ballarat and was selling it for just $15 to cover his costs at Rustik Cafe and Foodstore, which has since closed its doors.
In the meantime, he had collated another book of poetry, which he has also had printed.
His new book, Reflections from Broken River, is a must-read for people living in and around Benalla and other towns along the length of the waterway.
The foreword explains it is a perfect coffee table book, as it can be read from the front, back or halfway through.
But don’t take our word for it. You can borrow a copy of either book from Benalla Library or purchase one from the Benalla Ensign office, 70 Bridge St East, Benalla, for $15.