This and That
Art, History, Crafts, Earth Sciences, Gardening, Writing, Australian flora and fauna, severe weather, Australiana, myths and legends
Art World
Lorn Gallery
Best of The Best exhibition of local artists.
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 Owls Return Watercolour Cath Fleet-Turner | ||
 The King and I Mixed Media Marea Kozaczynski-McCaig |
Artist in Residence Jennie Stone
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The Fabric of My Life
Saturday 9 July we were privileged to watch a video of Cathy’s life as a designer. Her talents ranged from theatrical, Haute couture to bridal wear. Her talent is remarkable and it is astounding just how much she has managed to fit into life. A truly remarkable lady.
Note:
Parking available down behind the shops, turn right at The Avenue (the first right turn over the Belmore Bridge) then left into the car park.
November Exhiibtion at Lorn Gallery
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
It’s definitely not too soon to start your work on “A Place To Call Home”. We want heaps of entries this year to rival or better previous efforts, so get cracking. This community access exhibition is always a fantastic event with which to end the year and your involvement and enthusiasm are paramount to its success. Entry forms are available at the Gallery, and work is due in no later than November 6th. I’m really looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with – the mind boggles!! Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your queries or ideas regarding the theme if you are in any doubt!
Lorn Gallery
17 Belmore Rd. Lorn NSW 2320
Ph: 02 4933 2533 Fax: 02 4995 9281
email: dowling@bravo.net.au
Director: Kathy Dowling
Gallery Hours Thursday to Sunday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Maitland Region Society of Artists
Contact:
Kay (02) 4934 1323
Christine (02) 4934 2573
If you live in the area and have an interest in art, the Social Art Mornings held each Monday (excepting Public Holidays) at the Rutherford Community Centre, are worth a visit. In the short time I have been attending, I have found it to be a very friendly, helpful group.
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| Glacier Bay Helen Caddy |
Painting Palls
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| In The Mountains Pam Kirkwood |
What’s on in Maitland
Maitland Region Art Gallery is an excellent facility to visit and gain inspiration and maybe meet some of the artists whose work is being exhibited. Art classes are also available for adults. Don’t forget the excellent childrens’ programmes available at the gallery.
Current Exhibitions
Caprice by Robyn Stanton Werkhoven and Eric Werkhoven
Lineage by David Fairbairn
A shared childhood by Peter and Fairlie Kingston
Hours and Minutes by Sean Roche
Each exhibition is worth a visit, obviously each artist has a joy of art and chosen subjects are depicted with great feeling. I shall have to visit the gallery again before these exhibitions close.
Where to access local Events
Maitland Visitor Information Centre
Maitland Mercury (Local Notices link)
Hunter Imag
Maitland Library
Maitland Library has two wonderful programmes:
“Look Who’s Talking”
“ Living Book”
Check the website and come along and listen.
My Virtual Gallery
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In The Garden
Winter Garden
As autumn fades into winter, the garden in contentment sighs,
Another well-earned rest it’s earned from labours as the year is passing by.
In sunny corners, leaf carpeted, spotted doves strutting through the leaves,
Picking up choice morsels which their keen beady eyes can see.
Not far away a lazy cat is curled up blissfully in the sun,
Quite uninterested in his feathered friends, foraging in that same sun.
There is a feel of peace and contentment that steals over a winter garden,
The feeling of a job well done.
JB 2003
Winter rest has invaded the garden, deciduous trees have lost their leaves, the bird, reptile and insect world, except for honeybees, is quietly awaiting spring and the resident pair of blackbirds is gleefully watching decomposing leaves, knowing they cover hundreds of earthworms to feed their spring brood.
The garden is punctuated by the cheerful singing of the resident flock of sparrows, warning squawks of rainbow lorikeets, king parrots and peewits warning of the presence of either a collared sparrowhawk or grey goshawk, prompt the resident magpies to take on their role as bouncers, making the hawk quite apprehensive. It also realises the delicious scent of speckled dove is not likely to materialise into dinner.
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Our small flock of superb wrens is still here, they are quite cheeky and bossy, stating their ownership of the garden not only to the bird life but also to the dog (a rottie) and any humans present. They are amusing and a delight to have around.
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Thought you might enjoy this piece of trivia:
Strange Structure Found in Tree
Community Interests
| Maitland Region Society of Artists Inc. Members Annual Art Exhibition 2011 Opening Night August 12 between 6pm and 8pm Masonic Hall, Grant Street, Maitland. Judge Ron Ramsey Director of NRAG August 13 from 9am to 5pm August 14 from 9am to 3pm GOLD COIN DONATION RSVP 8 August 2011 President Kay Sparkes 4934 1323 Secretary Christine Lantry 4934 2573 Website: |
Here is a wonderful opportunity to choose and buy and original work of art.
| Maitland Repertory Theatre Inc. Reamus Youth Theatre's August Show: Shakespeare's As You Like It. September Show: An Inspector Calls. November/December Dinner Show: Death by Chocolate. Bookings: Website: |
Repertory is an integral part of Maitland’s cultural fabric, shows are well produced and performances polished.
Australian Museum of Clothing and Textiles
Putting on The Ritz
Our Cocktail and Vintage Fashion Parade was held at the Repertory Theatre, Maitland on 23 July 2011, follow this link to enjoy beautiful gowns paraded that night. A credit to all who produced the show. We were privileged also, in having a professional photographer offer to take photos on the night.
This clip of Putting on The Ritz was kindly taken by Michael Howard, a relative on one of our members, a fantastic effort! Make sure you follow the website link. Enjoy items from AMCAT’s collection and private collections of its members.
Michael Howard Photography
4 Elaine Ave, Lemon Tree Passage, NSW 2319
02 4982 3037
DVD Available: small charge of $25.00 for postage etc, should cover it (or they can just copy your DVD).
Professional prints available if required.
Next Exhibition – Simply Elegant
Opening in August
Visit the museum and view fashions that gave people a feeling of luxury and elegance. Fine fashion, from a special hat to classic shoes, tastefully co-ordinated for every outfit. Simply elegant from top to toe.
Open
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am – 3pm
Other times by appointment – Bus and School groups welcome ring
Stephanie on 0403 652 550
Admission $3 Seniors $2.50
Location:
The Australian Museum of Clothing and Textiles,
Lt. Governor’s Residence, John Street,
East Maitland. Maitland Gaol Precinct
For further information contact:
Nell – 49301135 or Letitia 49986416
Local History
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| East Maitland courthouse and the old Maitland Gaol Precinct in late afternoon sunlight |
Learn more about family history and local history:
Maitland & District Genealogical Society Inc.
At the Maitland Heritage Centre, Mounted Police Barracks,17 Lindesay Street, East Maitland 2320
Postal: PO Box 247, Maitland. 2320
Phone: (02) 4937 5301 (AH)
Maitland Historical Society
Address: 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland
Phone: 0438 623 299
Postal: PO Box 333, Maitland. NSW 2320
Health
Cummins, Mr. Chas – Indisposed –The many friends of Mr. Chas. Cummins, who is employed in the grocery department of Messrs. Chant and Co., Ltd., will learn with regret that he has been indisposed for some days, and is at present an inmate of the private hospital at Campbell’s Hill. A severe attack of influenza and a touch of pneumonia, it is understood, was the cause of his illness. However, he is doing nicely, and should be about again shortly. Maitland Mercury 23 October 1915
Dentistry
As recently as the earlier years of this century it was normal for people to have all their teeth extracted. When I was a young dentist I was told that it had been the usual practice to give girls total extractions and a set of false teeth for their 21st birthday present (to save them trouble later). I came across one elderly lady who needed a new set of false teeth, attempting to make them look like her own teeth I asked what they had been like. 'Beautiful' she told me 'Small, white and even'. I asked why she had had them removed and she told me that it was because she kept falling over. When I asked if this had cured the problem she told me no, not until she got a pair of glasses! Another patient (about 1975) had had no teeth at all for about 20 years, but came for a pair because his daughter wouldn't let him go to her wedding with no teeth in! Yet another came for a first pair of dentures (about 1983). When I asked him when he had lost his teeth he told me that it was as a result of a motor bike accident. Further enquiry elicited the information that this had been in 1951. Of course I asked what had made him decide to have false teeth after 30 years. He told me that his wife 'kept going on about it'. When I said had she been going on about it for 30 years he told me that he'd just got a hearing aid!!!
Ann Newman
Property
Business
Cotton Cultivation
Cotton Cultivation – Assured Market, Caution Necessary – Cotton is talked of a great deal now in Australia. Queensland, owing to its climatic conditions, provided great opportunities for the exploitation of the possibilities of the crop, but even there, a great deal of careful experimentation is required in many parts before much land is devoted to cotton cultivation.
Last year proved a very disappointing one to a large number of experimenters born in this State and in Queensland, but it is to be expected that a growingly larger number will year by year be added to the ranks of the experimenters.
Cotton provides a great attraction because there is no uncertainty whatever with regard to a market for as large a supply as can be grown.
The attention of farmers in the Hunter Valley might well be drawn to a bulletin that has just been published by the Agricultural Department prepared by Messrs. M. Wenholz, B. Sc., Agr., and E. S. Clayton, and obtainable for a few pence from the Government Printer.
Those parts of the Hunter Valley where alluvial soil occurs in districts of good rainfall are included in the parts of the State deemed most suitable for cotton cultivation.
The old style in the Southern States now being widely departed from under the stress of losses from pests, of cotton as the exclusive article of production, is not recommended to our farmers.
A large number growing small quantities rather than a few growing large quantities, is what is recommended. Cotton picking might well add a goodly amount to the savings of the young people on the farms where favourable conditions for the cultivation of the plant exist.
If a reasonable large quantity were produced on the Hunter, a good sum could be made from the utilisation of the by=products which are many and valuable.
Intense interest is being taken in the cotton manufacturing districts of the old country in the efforts being put forth in the dominions to supply the lack of the American raw article, which lack for some time past has caused much distress among cotton industry operatives. Maitland Weekly Mercury, Saturday 13 October 1923.
Dawson & Son – Wanted Known We clean, adjust, or repair any and every make of Sewing Machine; no job too difficult and satisfaction guaranteed. Dawson & Son, 381 High-street. Phone 136. Maitland Mercury 3 January 1919.
Dawson & Son – Wanted Known – Enamel Preserving Pans, nine shillings and sixpence, 10 shillings ans sixpence, 11 shillings & sixpence; Rubber Garden Hose, 9 pence a foot; Market Bakets, 2 shillings, 2 shillings and ninepence, e shllings and threepence, 3 shillings and ninepnece; Enamelled plates, 8 pence, 9 pnece, 10 pence; Water Cans, Tubs, Buckets. Dawson & Son, 384 High –street. Phone 136. The Maitland Daily Mercury 24 January 1919.
Dealers and Collectors Association
Dealers and Collectors - A representative meeting of the Dealers' and Collectors' Association was held at Mr. J. Brown's last night, which was largely attended. It was decided to bring it into working existence from January 1. Another meeting will be called to adopt rules and regulations at an early date. Maitland Mercury 23 December 1908
Dickson, D. & J. – The undersigned beg to inform their friends and the public that, in addition to their previous large Stock of Goods, they have received ex “Mary Lloyd”, “Honduras”, and “Itana” an extensive and well-assorted variety of every article in Drapery. As the whole has been specially selected for their own trade, they will be found much superior to the general quality of imported goods. Having likewise been advised of further large shipments, daily expected, the whole will be sold at the lowest remunerative prices. D. & J. Dickson. Maitland Mercury 4 November 1843
Dransfield, J. A. And Co. – Flower Seeds for Present Planting – Stocks – Large-flowered double, mixed (including everything that is good in stocks), 1/-, and 2/6; Double White, 6d. and 1/-. Pansy – The World’s best large-flowered, exhibition strains, in every pansy colour and tint, the richest mixture ever offered, 1/- and 2/6. Sweet Peas – Winter flowering Spencers, in a great variety of colours, 1/- and 2/6; 30 varieties Spencers, one seed of each, in one packet, 1/-; 23 Spencers, newer sorts, 1/6; 50 large flowering varieties, 6d.
Specialties at 1/- Packet – Ranunculus, Anemone, Delphinium, Carnation, Pentstemon, Primula, Cineraria, Calceolaria, and Cyclamen. Choice Varieties At 6d – Phlox, Dianthus, Centurea, Aquilegia, Antirrhinum, Nemesia, Dimorphotheca, Stock, Pansy, Carnation, Sweet Peas, Polyanthus. Hundreds of Choice Varieties At 3d Packet. Seed Importers, West Maitland. Maitland Mercury 23 January 1919.
Cultural
Country Womens’Association
Country Women’s Association – Meeting of Muswellbrook Branch – The Muswellbrook branch of the Country Women’s Association is now firmly established. Rest room has been rented in Bridge-street, and the baby clinic will probably be opened on Thursday next. At the monthly meeting held in the Strand Theatre, the president, Mrs. D. M. Bell, occupied the chair. Correspondence was received from Miss Segaert, general secretary, intimating that “Keera House” Dee Why, was available to guests during the winter months as a holiday rest home and also stating that she had forwarded copies of the annual report for distribution amongst members. Correspondence was also received with reference to the furniture and equipment of the clinic. The honorary secretary, Mrs. J. Lowe, reported that Nurse Sharpe, of Singleton, had visited Muswellbrook, and inspected clinic and equipment. She was prepared to be in attendance at the clinic when officially required. Nurse Sharp had also let samples of some of the equipment necessary, and made suggestions which were duly appreciated.
Miss Laing (honorary treasurer), presented a financial statement, which showed that funds from entertainment held at McCully’s Gap, Muscle Creek, Dartbrook, Kayuga, Edinglassie and Muswellbrook, and donations collected, including 50 pounds for clinic, amounted to 121 pounds 15 shillings, which, with half membership fees from 270 members, the branch had now in hand the sum of 148 pounds 15 shillings. It was largely owing to Nurse Loader that the branch was in such a sound position. Mrs. H. White reported that she had made inquiries with reference to a person needing assistance and suggested that the branch assist in enabling her to spend a holiday at “Keera House”. It was decided on the motion of Mesdames O. G. Morton and D. D. Campbell that 3 pounds be forwarded for the purpose. The Maitland Weekly Mercury Saturday 15 June 1929.
Daughters of Temperance
Daughters of Temperance – West Maitland – United Sisters Division No. 36 – The second installation of officers in this division took place on Monday 10th instant, by the Installing Patriarch, Brother Creer, assisted by Brother Lindley as Grand Conductor. The friends of Temperance will be glad to hear of the success attending the society, which was organized on 13 October last, with 36 members; the increase during the quarter has been 35, making a total number of 71 members during its short existence of three months, and it is still steadily increasing – not a meeting but some new members are initiated. The meetings are characterized by peace, sisterly love and harmony, each member doing her part to promote the cause of Temperance and happiness. The roll of newly-elected officers having been called over, Brother Lobsley came forward, and presented the United Sister Division on behalf of Sister Henery, with a set of Officers’ sashes, with the emblems of the order embroidered on each. A vote of thanks was then carried by acclamation, which was duly acknowledged by Sister Henery. The following officers were then duly installed: P. W. P. Bro. Henery was re-elected to the chair; Sister Compton, W. A.; Sister Gentle, junr. R.S.; Sister Crew, A. R. S.; Sister Lobsley, jnr. F. S.; Sister Lobsley snr., Treasurer; Sister Taylor, Chaplain; Sister Moore, Conductor; Sister Stephens, Assistant Conductor; Sister Arkell, J. S.; Bro. Hodgson, D. S.; medical officer of division Dr. Morson. Sick benefits, independent of medical attendance, ten shillings per week. There being no Past Patriarch, P. W. P. Brother Winter, who had acted as such during the past quarter, was again appointed to the past chair. Brother Henery expressed his thanks to the division for the confidence reposed in him by electing him the second time their W. P. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and to G. W. P. Creer and G. L. Lindley, and the appointing of committee by the W. P., brought this very interesting and highly satisfactory meeting to a close. – Correspondent – Maitland Mercury Tuesday 18 January 1870.
Maitland Identities
Dickson, Mr. Alexander – We regret that this gentleman, who has been so long and favourably known in Maitland, took his departure on Monday morning last with the intention of proceeding to Africa as soon as an opportunity shall present itself for his carrying this intention into effect. His destination, we believe, is Liberia, a settlement of free American blacks on the west-coast of the African Continent, which must have become familiar to most readers by the mention made of it by Mrs. Stowe in her “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” It will be remembered that she represents both George Harris and Topsy as leaving America United States America
Sport
There are no sport items in this section of my index, however, I thought some old occupations might be amusing instead.
Occupations - from 1881 Census
From some of the vocations it is obvious that many of our forebears had a very whimsical sense of humour , their job descriptions are colourful as are the census taker’s interpretations
| Invisible net maker Knocker up of workpeople Maker of sand views Prime Minister (no Occ.) Ripper coalmine (blows roof down) Random waller Runs abt selling fish (hawker) Rust attendant at a lavatory Scarecrow Sick maker Teacher of wax flowers Travels with an entire horse Unsettled through recent death Watchmaker master (no hands) Artificial Scone Maker Beef Twister Bounder Can Make Nothing of the Paper Cleans Onions Colourist of Artificial Fish Cow Banger Custard Maker (Carpet) Decayed Publisher Dog Performer Egg Breaker Electric Bath Attendant Employed with Head Off Fatuous Pauper Feeding Boy to Printing Machine Fish Bender Follows wifely occupations | Knight of the Thimble Pensioner in charge of the magnet Negro comedian white eyed musical kaffir Proprietor of solution for protection of turnip from fly Rotters boy Running About Sampler of drugs Separated from head Slob brickmaker Tender of charge of cubes Turnip shepherd Very feeble Supposed to be a lady Assisting at Mangle Bottle Washer Boy for General Purposes Carrot and mangle Salesman Clod Hopper Count as Female Curer of Smokey Chimneys Dead Disinfector of Railways Drowner Egg Cracker Emasculator Examiner of Underclothing Feeder in Bump Factory Ferret Weaver Floater |
Religious
The Will of William Aspinall
William Aspinall died on the 12th January 1820 at South Creek, however he made his will only 6 days earlier on the 6th January 1820 when he was obviously very unwell. He was buried on the 10th January 1820 at St.
Matthew's Church of England in Windsor. At the time of death he was recorded as 66 years of age, he was "free" but came out as a convict on the "Neptune" in 1790. His will starts out with the statement :
"In the name of God amen I William Aspinall in the District of Pitt Town…Settler, being very sickly and weak in body but of perfect and sound mind memory and understanding (Thanks be given unto God for the same) calling to mind the mortality of my body and the uncertainty of my continuance in this world knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to say that principally and in the first place I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors as to the manner thereof nothing doubting but at Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate and effects wherewith it pleased God to bless me and of which I may be possessed at the same time of my decease…I give…"
· The first portion was property in the "neighbourhood of Blackburn in the
Kingdom of England" to his children Robert & John Aspinall and Elizabeth (wife of James Duxbury)
· The 2nd portion was to be given to his "faithful & esteemed friend Jane
Christie" and then on her death to her son William Christie.
Executors were William Christie and his "friend Jonas Bradley formerly Sergeant in the 102d Regiment but now a settler" and his signature was witnessed by William Christie & John Holden.
From My Timeline
1811 Australia – Sydney
Rain
The excessive rain kept on till 1810, but 1811 cut it short, and was so dry that water was worth 8d. per bucketful in Sydney
1811 Australia
Drought
1811 October
The long succession of dry weather at the present season has heretofore been unexampled, and the field and garden languish for the want of rain. The last refreshing shower with which Divine Providence was pleased to favour us was upon the 27th of August : it was very general, and gratefully acceptable throughout the various settlements, its continuance was about 24 hours: since which period however, we have scarcely had one visiting shower.
From this, great cause the growing wheat has in situations naturally dry received much injury; while in moister grounds, that have the advantage of a humid atmosphere the appearance is far more promising.
The long succession of dry weather at the present season has heretofore been unexampled, and the field and garden languish for the want of rain. The last refreshing shower with which Divine Providence was pleased to favour us was upon the 27th of August : it was very general, and gratefully acceptable throughout the various settlements, its continuance was about 24 hours: since which period however, we have scarcely had one visiting shower.
From this, great cause the growing wheat has in situations naturally dry received much injury; while in moister grounds, that have the advantage of a humid atmosphere the appearance is far more promising.
The produce of the late sown fields depends much upon the weather for a few weeks to come, the farmers hope rain without which they can form no expectation of the latter crop, nor save the season for planting maize, some former disappointments in the crops of which have been felt severely, as the rapid decline of stock was among the certain consequences.
From the best information we can collect, so intense a drought at this time of the year has not been witnessed since the year 1789, when the new colonists suffered a parching thirst; for several months, the springs from which they had been before supplied either failing totally, or yielding scarcely a sufficiency to support nature, numbers of flying foxes and squirrels, parrots, and birds of all the various species, flocked from the interior to the sea-coast, and perished as they flew.
A visitation of so dreadful a calamity in the present state of the Colony would be incalculably severe, owing to the numerous, and in many instances extensive herds that must participate a disaster; from which it is our duty fervently to pray that Providence may ,defend those creatures that instinctively lay claim to her benign consideration and protection.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 19 October 1811
1870 New Zealand
The 1870 eruptions
M Mt Ngāuruhoe: young and active
any eye-witness accounts describe the eruption of Ngāuruhoe on 7 July 1870, which followed about 30 years of intermittent ash eruptions. Two lava flows travelled down the north side of the mountain, and loud detonations continued for three months, heard as far as Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth and Napier. The lava was also visible from distant areas. In July 1870 Colonel J. M. Roberts, at a constabulary post on the Napier–Taupō road, wrote of the event:
One night a glow was observed spreading down the cone, comparable to a tree fern fire on a distant hill, and the following day three great columns of steam were seen rising, one from the summit crater and the others from the lower slopes. 1
1911 Australia
National Drought
1911 – National drought lasts until 1916
http://www.teaching heritage.nsw.edu.au/2timelines/timefr.html
http//dl.screenaustralia.gov.au/module/1407/
1931 Australia – NSW Maitland
Flood
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), Tuesday 28 April 1931, page 5
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4400999
FLOODS AT MAITLAND curious effect of flood waters was seen at the
West Maitland railway station whore the railway tracks were running platform-high with water.
Between the afternoon of Sunday week and Saturday 1,585 points of rain were registered at
West Maitland.
(a photo accompanies this PDF)
1946 Australia – ACT Canberra
Cold
Dry
The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1954), Monday 1 July 1946, page 2
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2689210
CANBERRA IN GRIP OF ANOTHER COLD SNAP
Canberra, in keeping with the whole State, experienced another bleak week-end and the highest temperature, was 44.8. at 3 p.m. yesterday when the sun shone for a few brief minutes to be overwhelmed again b masses of driving cloud..
Reports from Uriarra reveal that snow, which began 'falling heavily on Saturday, had broken telephone communications to Bull's Head, and that snow covered the ground to Blue Range.
Snow made vehicular progress difficult towards Mt. Franklin on Saturday , afternoon, and. one car is known to have veered off the road and had ito; be abandoned. Very Slight rain fell during the past 48 hours but Friday, night’s heavier falls were sufficient to cause the postponement of competition tennis and ladies' basketball and hockey fixtures.
Farmers outside Canberra declare that the rain was not sufficiently heavy to be beneficial to crops, but continued cold might result in the loss of stock.
Fairbairn Aerodrome had been closed several times during the past two days through low cloud. It was stated last night that cloud formations must be at least 2,500 feet high, or 1000 feet above the surrounding hills, before the aerodrome is operable.
The Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley) was to.have flown to Melbourne last night, to inspect the Ford plant at Geelong, but was delayed by the weather, he expects to leave this morning.
1946 Australia – NSW
Blizzard
Dust Storm
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Wednesday 17 July 1946, page 4
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17991524
Mid-winter Contrasts
A blizzard at Kosciusko, a dust storm at Broken Hill, and mild spring sunshine in Sydney gave strange contrasts in mid-winter weather in New South Wales yesterday. Snow has been falling at Mt. Kosciusko since Thursday, and a westerly wind of gale force has swept the area. The barometer reading of 29.44 inches yesterday was the lowest this year. Temperature was at freezing point, and the snow plough was at work clearing roads.
Dusty conditions prevailed in Broken Hill throughout the day. Late in the afternoon the city was completely covered by a severe duststorm. This was followed by heavy rain and then strong winds.
In Sydney fine, mild conditions continued. Temperatures ranged from a minimum of 49 degrees to 67 degrees at 2.45 p.m.
There was no frost in most parts of the State. Light rain continued to fall in southern areas. A change in the weather is expected.
Freak Storm at Batlow
Snow at Mt. Kosciusco
Warm Windy Weather
Water Cool at Bronte Beach
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Monday 22 July 1946, page 1
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17982885
Roofs Fly In Freak Wind-storm
A strip of land 200 yards wide and three-quarters of a mile long in the, Batlow district was devastated by a freak storm on Saturday afternoon. Wind of cyclone force tore roofs from houses, and stripped trees of their limbs. Some trees were severed about 10 feet from the ground. No persons have so far been reported injured.
Mr. L. N. Quarmby lost a hayshed, and part of his house, including the roof, was blown away. Paddocks in the vicinity were strewn with sheets of iron. People returning from Tumut from the Maher Cup match had to move several trees from the road. The storm was accompanied by hail.
Chalet Snowed In
More heavy snow fell on Mt. Kosciusko yesterday morning. Nearly five feet has fallen during the last four or five days in one of the worst blizzards for years. Heavy drifts are lying in the valleys and snow is banked so high at The Chalet that residents are able to ski from the roof.
Horse sleighs have had to be used to bring provisions into the hotel. Skiers in the mountain huts are
isolated. They are in touch with the hotel by wireless and there are no fears for their safety.
Hundreds Surfed
Several hundred people went surfing on Sydney's beaches in yesterday's warm but windy weather. The temperature was 63 degrees at 10 a.m. and went up to a maximum of 68 degrees at 2 p.m. Very light rain was reported from places in the Riverina and south-west slopes.
A record low-water temperature was recorded al Bronte Baths yesterday. The recordings were: Pool 51 degrees, ocean (bogey hole) 55 degrees. This is the lowest recording in the pool since June 9, 1932, 52 degrees; ocean 56 degrees on November 19 and 28, 1945.
These recordings have been taken at Bronte Baths for over 30 years and this is the coldest July recorded.
Record Floods from Snow Melt
Snow
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Monday 29 July 1946, page 1
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17991611
FLOOD HIGHER AT ALBURY
Other Rivers Fall
The Murray River flood at Albury reached a new high level in the town last night, but the water is stationary in most places. There is still danger of further risings as the river can be expected to swell with the melting of further snow that has fallen in the mountains.
At the Hume Dam water to a depth of 7ft 11in is pouring over the spillway, exceeding the record of the 1939 floods by 9 inches.
In New South Wales, the Murrumbidgee and Tumut Rivers receded considerably over the week-end. They are now safely below flood level and are still falling. Severe weather continues at Kosciusko, with wind, snow and low temperatures. There are heavy drifts all around the hotel and vehicles have been unable to get from Wilson's Valley to the hotel. Even if snow stops falling ii will be some time before the road can be used by any vehicles other than tractors.
A special steel and timber sleigh has had to be constructed to cany guests away from the hotel. It will be hauled by a Main Roads Board tractor. Thirty guests will be leaving to-day.
SNOWS FILLED THE VALLEY
Four people got to the hotel from the Chalet yesterday morning. They described the snow-filled valleys as looking like "lowland" country. Tunnels had been cut on the eastern side of the Chalet to allow light to get into the windows, they said.. Six men, all expert skiers, were given permission by the hotel manager, Mr. Petersen, to attempt to get through to the Chalet this morning. Three gave up after battling against the snow drifts and winds for several hours. The other three got through. The Chalet has been isolated for nine days, and the 40-odd guests there are living on tinned reserve rations.
In Sydney the weather again was mild during the week-end. Maximum temperature yesterday was 66 degrees at 2.30 p.m.
Earth Sciences
Tsunamis Buried Ancient Olympics Site
Sea rise slow down raises questions
Ancient superflood brought climate chaos
Experiment shows time travel impossible
Bending light the key to 'invisibilty'
Footprints show how our ancestors walked
Young World
Here is a new section with items of interest for our young generation.
A Story
“Hello, young man, where are you going?” asked Peri. “I thought I’d do some bush walking Peri.”
“Perhaps I should help you think this out, I’ll tell you a story”, said Peri.
It’s a lovely day for a walk in the bush, so you simply start walking, enjoying the sights and sounds. Did you tell anyone you were going? Does anyone know when you plan to return? Are you dressed properly, have food, water and a signalling device?
You think you hear a small waterfall just down over the side of the track and go for a look, takes you fifteen minutes to find it. How beautiful it is! Water tumbling over the rocks, ferns growing out of the rock crevices with maybe a big crayfish lurking in the shallows. Perfect.
It’s time to go - you drink some of that lovely clear water first. You begin to make your way back to the walking track, however, it all looks the same so you blunder on and suddenly find a rock formation blocking your way – no matter, you are young and strong, you will simply climb it! About half way up the footholds give out and you can go no further, neither can you climb down again and it is too far to jump! There is only a narrow ledge for you to sit on.
After about an hour, the realisation sets in – no one knows where you are! You cannot move, you have nothing to eat, the night will be chillingly cold. You have nothing to signal with, you can barely be seen on that ledge, not a comforting thought. You wonder how long it will take for alarm to be raised, whether anyone will even think to look for you here. At least you haven’t any injuries – what if you go to sleep during the night and fall off the ledge? Now you begin to worry and feel scared!
You sit there all day, your tummy begins to rumble – you have eaten nothing since breakfast! You are also very thirsty, worry uses a lot of energy.
It is late afternoon, you are desperately worried, no one has found you, there hasn’t even been a plane or helicopter out searching. It looks as though a sleepless, cold night is ahead.
Your worst fears were realised, you spent the night on the ledge, are perishing cold, thirsty and hungry! Are you going to become food for the crows? How you wish you had told someone what you were doing!
“Coooooooooooooeeeeeeeeee, Cooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeee!” You can’t believe your ears, it must be an hallucination! “ Cooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeee”, “Cooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeee!” There it is again! It must be happening! Suddenly you realise you really should be replying. “Coooeee.” You realise that it was a weak little sound and wouldn’t be heard. A fear rises in you the rescuers might move on. “COOOOOOOOEEEEE!
COOOOOOOOEEEEE!!!”
You hear a shout “There’s someone over here!” You hear steps above and shout again. Someone is being lowered down towards you, you are so relieved that you nearly fall off the ledge with relief but manage to hold on tight. Oh, what a relief to have the rope tied around you and have someone helping you climb up that cliff.
Later you learn that you had been seen by other walkers on the track, they recognized the description given over the evening news and phoned the police. Rescuers had been searching the bush for hours. Bet you’re not going to do that again!
“Now, young man, have you prepared properly for your bush walk or should you return home and prepare properly – perhaps leaving you walk until tomorrow?”
“I think I had better go home Peri, I haven’t followed safety procedure, a night lost in the bush doesn’t sound much fun!”
JB
Copyright
Bush Walking Safety Tips
Budding Scientists
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| Fantasy Insect |
Facts
Australia is the smallest, flattest and driest inhabited continent in the world. It is the only country which is also a whole continent.
It is also revolving anticlockwise and moving at the rate of four inches (about 10cms) per year towards the equator and our tectonic plate is sliding down under New Guinea, eastern Australia is in a state of uplift which will eventually cause increasingly drier weather. Due to the movement of the tectonic plates, the areas around the poles is coming together at the rate of a foot (about 300cms) per year and those around the equator at the rate of four inches (about 30cms) per year, eventually, it is thought the land masses will all eventually meet.
Myths and Legends
Let’s begin with Australian legends
Dust Echoes
Aboriginal Tribes - the existence of about 507 Aboriginal tribes has been counted in Australia, territories covered even the most arid areas, they ate what the land offered and knew how to prepare it safely, they knew the medicinal properties of the plants around them and they traded with other tribes and had a strong social structure.
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| Fantasy Insec |
Nature
Wildlife of Sydney –from the Australian Museum
Aussie Facts
Australia is the only country in the world which has the monotreme genus - an animal which lays eggs and suckles its young. The world's only monotremes are the platypus and the echidna.
The Purple-neck Rock Wallaby (Petrogale Purpureicollis), inhabits the Mt Isa region in Northwest Queensland. The Wallaby secretes a dye that stains its face and neck into colours ranging from light pink to bright purple.
Kangaroos and emus cannot walk backwards and for that reason they are our symbols on the Australian coat of arms.
The wombat deposits square poos on logs, rocks and upright sticks to mark its territory.
Art and Craft
Would you like to draw and colour one of my Rainbow Lorikeet visitors? You may copy my photograph.
Australiana
Extracts from “My Mother’s Ways” Collated by Mary Murray, ISBN 978 1 875696 58 1, my copy was purchased from the local newsagent. The time setting for this is the early 1900’s, a time when if you were luck, you owned an ice chest, otherwise a Coolgardie Safe kept your perishables safe.
A cheap oil-stain for wooden floors. Mix equal quantities of sump oil, kerosene, sheep dip and mineral turpentine – this is cheaper than pure turps. This stain dries much more quickly, is darker, and lasts longer than raw oil and kerosene. The odour soon evaporates, leaving a good floor stain which gives good service.
(They must have been hardy in those days, not sure what sheep dip contains –I wonder whether it was arsenic as in cattle dip and sump oil sticks to and stains everything? The mind boggles.)
Mend and make do:
Knit your own ‘chain mail’ jerkin. You will need silver-grey wool and a pair of coarse needles. Make the whole jerkin in plain knitting and give it a light coat of silver paint. If staging a medieval play, or if school-children are staging Shakespeare, a very realistic ‘chain mail’ can be achieved.
If men’s woollen scarves are no longer used, they can be made into skirts for small children two to three years old. The width of the scarf becomes the length; attach it to a bodice. If enough is left, make a little jerkin to match and decorate with braiding to suit.
And if you’re hungry –
Stir equal parts of honey and peanut butter together to form a paste and use for sandwich filling between slices of brown bread.
Give your children a healthy milk drink by mashing a ripe banana with a small teaspoon of sugar, gradually adding ½ pint of chilled milk. Beat with a rotary beater until frothy and serve quickly before the banana discolours.
These recipes were still going strong in the 1950’s and later.
An Australian Story
A country childhood has been a major influence all through life. Recently, I have had cause to reflect on those influences shaped each phase – from the departure to the city to find work right up to the present day, my roaring sixties, roaring around doing things I like to do (or attempting to) and when warranted, saying things that need to be said.
Leaving home at sixteen and a half was a major disruption. The farming district I left was stunningly beautiful, our farm had its strip of subtropical rainforest covering the steep hills. I had the comfort of a large group of extended family including my paternal grandparents. Yes, I had family in the city, including my paternal grandmother all of whom I loved, it was as though I was in another world. This shy teenager who had lived a quiet, almost cloistered life was at the beginning of a steep learning curve.
The worst feature was getting used to your neighbours living a few feet away after roaming for years on more than a hundred acres. The claustrophobia was somewhat relieved in that my Grandmother, with whom I stayed, lived beside the lake and I could at least look out on the water. I found useful employment, began to make friends and best of all, learned to surf, row a boat and fish. The country girl was still in there somewhere.
Girls tended to marry in their late teens or very early twenties in those times and I was no exception. It wasn’t long before we had a beautiful baby boy who was eager to be up and going, he was trying vainly to sit up at three months, talked early, later learning new sentences rather than new words, much to the amusement of the Clinic Sister. He mightn’t have managed to sit up at three months but he did, with great determination walk on his own at nine months after practising hand over hand around the walls for some weeks leaving a grubby tidemark in his wake. Then came a daughter, she was quieter but no less determined, she was up and walking quite young, too.
Then there were the questions, both wanted to know what seemed like everything and each day seemed to be a long series of questions, they had an insatiable thirst for knowledge which evolved into interesting conversations as they grew older and far into their teens. Perhaps this was an echo of those interesting discussions about everything under the sun with my grandparents or in the dairy between singing to the cows during milking. Incidentally, the cows enjoyed music ranging from opera to country and western, old favourites and the top twenty, you could say that their musical diet was omnivorous.
During my married life I have always engaged in some aspect of community life. My husband was member of a friendly society, I joined, worked through the chairs and learned how to administer within an organisation and cope with public speaking, as a shy person as I had to move out of my comfort zone. School canteen and helping with craft lessons at the local primary school were more to my liking. In later years there were great rewards and satisfaction in helping out as a parent tutor in a remedial reading programme at a local high school, this led to becoming a Teachers’ Aide Special.
A common thread running through all this was creativity in some form. I had always loved art, I used it to illustrate letters sent to my Nanna, she must have liked them as they were still in her belongings when she passed away, an auntie returned them to me and they are kept with the family history. At various times through the years I have taken up the paint brush for a short while until other more pressing matters intervened. Recently art has taken a more prominent place in my life and I am determined to keep it there.
Creativity takes many forms, sewing, knitting and crochet for the family occupied a great deal of time. This not only relieved the budget, it was an opportunity to create something original. Later, I added stretch sewing, beading and ribbon embroidery to the repertoire, spending many creative and happy hours in these pursuits. I had always been a collector of pretty rocks, this eventually led to lapidary and silverwork. Always the creative streak. A Diploma in Gemmology was also gathered in this era, gemmology being the identification of and study of gemstones, I also lectured in this course for some years.
Even the garden provides an opportunity to create, mine is a haven for wildlife and a few interesting varieties of vegetables. During a short stay in the garden today I watched some doves dozing in the sunlight, an Indian Mynah practising his spring song, one of the superb wrens stake claim to the whole yard and a williwagtail surveying the world from a neighbour’s TV aerial – a heavenly interlude.
Some years ago now, IT age caught up with me, in fact it grabbed me by the collar and dragged me along with it. After a six week course learning how to use Microsoft Word I was off and running, my daughter was moving away and wanted to keep in touch via the internet, she went to a great deal of trouble taking Print Screen images if each step to access, use and close the internet, placed them in a folder and left me to it. For a while, until I was used to the routine, I would madly thumb through, trying to keep up with the computer to access the email. Eventually I graduated.
Interestingly, I learned more about using various programmes by volunteering in various organisations over the years than I would have thought possible. One invaluable piece of advice given by my daughter was ‘there are relatively few moves in computing, different programmes use different methods of explaining them, think about it and you can always work it out’, that advice was spot on. IT has given me the freedom to write my childrens’ stories illustrated with my own artwork, assemble family histories, record my poetry and put together pictorial records for our Grandchildren to enjoy and access U3A so that I may indulge my love of knowledge studying courses on offer. It also provides a way to record the cultural richness of the beautiful area in which I now live.
Granny’s Eye View
It occurred to me recently that the western world seems to need a crisis to be able to function properly. In the 1950’s there was the threat of nuclear war, we were all going to be annihilated, back yard bomb shelters were built. Who knows how effective they would have been or whether they still exist, those that do, probably provide a cosy living space for cockroaches. They were never used and the only profit went to those selling materials needed to construct them.During the next two decades millions of dollars were expended on increasingly sophisticated surveillance and weaponry, scaring the world’s population silly with the thought of nuclear war. This thankfully ceased with the pulling down of the Berlin Wall.
The hole in the ozone layer became the next focus, we were all going to get horribly sunburnt and die of sun cancers, something had to be done immediately! There were two camps of scientific opinion, those who maintained disaster was imminent and those who believed it was due to natural phenomena caused by the variation of tilt of the earth on its axis and it would be rectified in due course. We were persuaded to buy new refrigerators as the old models polluted the atmosphere, refrigerator manufacturers were richer and very happy. Something I didn’t mind, was being able to buy favourite products sans aerosol sprays.
Next “must have” situation was that the world needed a “level playing field” in order to trade successfully – no tariff, no holds barred. First to go were trade barriers on the shoe and leather good industry and the textile industry. In consequence, we lost both these industries and the jobs they supported to cheap overseas imports.
Our latest crisis is the carbon emission crisis, again, there are two scientific camps, one saying human beings have caused it and the world I going to heat up and seas rise drastically, drowning coastal communities, the other saying this is a natural phenomenon, which will right itself in due course and is actually climate variation rather than climate change.
Viewed over a period of sixty plus years, it tends to make one somewhat cynical, bringing on thoughts of Henny Penny who thought the sky was falling when a rock hit her on the head or that amusing poem “Hanrahan” who viewed every weather event, rain, drought, fires, even good weather, as a sign of doom “We’ll all be rooned, said Hanrahan, before the year is out!”
If you haven’t read it, try this link: Australian Folklore - http://warrenfahey.com/bush_poetry-hard-yakka-5.htm
I’m of the mind that careful use of resources practiced by buying to cover our needs, which are few, and drastically reducing our wants we would cut the developed world’s carbon imprint drastically. Expect our major items to last more than the miserable lifetimes they do at present. They should be sent back where they came from for recycling, I shouldn’t wonder that quite soon every last item would soon have a longer working life and we would be back to the system of replacing items when they are no longer serviceable rather than yearly updates.
Build our houses to suit our needs not our wants and bring back the old fashioned verandah which provides shelter to dry clothes and a children’s play area in wet weather as well as keeping the whole house cooler. Verandahs around the outside of houses were removed to save on material during the depression, time it became mandatory to restore them again. Savings in electricity consumption would be significant.
Have you ever noticed the volume of packaging and sales brochures that cross your doorstep each week? Each week they are dutifully placed in the recycle bin – what if they were required to be sent back to their originator to recycle at their expense instead of ours via our council rates. It wouldn’t be long before there was a drastic reduction in this mass.
Our real needs are simple, adequate housing, suitable clothing, money earned by means of meaningful work, good moral outlook, education, nourishing food to eat and good medical and dental services. Add to this a reliable car and some relaxation. Everything else is ‘wants’ and not necessary for our wellbeing.
It has somehow become our fault that this carbon imprint is so large and our responsibility to pay out good money for it – why not pay out less on these items we are told we must have and the pretty brochures to prove it and cut this waste off at its source. Seems logical to me.
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| Making The Bed |
Technogranny
