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From Tickey Draai to TLBs: A Century of Road Building at Malealea
More than a hundred years ago, in 1905, Mervyn came to live in Malealea. He quickly developed a deep love for the land and an even greater passion for road-making. Back then, there were no trucks, no gradersâjust spades, picks, and wheelbarrows and the community. In order to get building supplies to Malealea, Mervyn had to forge a road from the top of the mountain pass, which he lovingly named âThe Gates of Paradise,â all the way down to the village.
Each corner of that dusty road carried a story. One bend was affectionately known as âTickey Draaiâ, another âSixpenny Draai.â At the highest point, on the windswept neck of the pass, Mervyn placed a simple but powerful sign: âWayfarer Pause, Behold The Gates of Paradise.â (A revamped version is still there ) It's a reminderâto stop, to breathe, to take in the vast beauty before descending into the valley below.
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