The continuing story of Paul Rene Loubet. Dr Loubet accepted a position at the Melbourne Hospital in May 1917. Subsequently he was required to present himself at Melbourne University, to be examined for the degree of M.D. As part of the process he presented the Registrar
Read more →The well known children’s novel They Found a Cave was written by Tasmanian author Nan Chauncy, and published in 1948. Some years ago my partner and I visited the writer’s longtime home, Chauncy Vale, near the small town of Bagdad. The adventure story was inspired by a
Read more →The Tasmanian sojourn of the fox terrier known as Kings Cross Bob began early in 1939. It’s worth noting that by then the dog had truly entered the mythology of The Cross. By the way, if you haven’t read part one of the story, CLICK HERE. Here
Read more →This is the story of King’s Cross Bob, a dog who brought joy to a community (actually to an entire city) throughout the Great Depression. The Sydney tabloid Smith’s Weekly paid tribute to him in April 1940. Yes, the ‘retired gentleman’ was a famous, aging fox terrier.
Read more →I hate to admit this, but Australia’s beloved Tim Tams were inspired by UK chocolate biscuits called Penguins. Arnott’s long term Director of Food Technology was Mr Ian Norris. In 1958, while touring the world on the hunt for new ideas, he came across Penguin biscuits
Read more →Food historians believe that the origins of carrot cake date back to the European Middle Ages. Carrots were used in place of costly sugar to make sweet – (ish) puddings and tarts etc. There was a revival of interest in carrot cake during WWII in the UK,
Read more →How appropriate that this country’s most loyal dog was not a Scottish terrier but Bluey, an Australian cattle dog. In 1927 a ‘Swaggie’ was critically injured when he was hit by a car. He was taken to the St. George Hospital in Kogarah, but died soon afterwards.
Read more →Back in 1900 someone wrote to The Telegraph (Brisbane) with a story demonstrating the reasoning powers of crows. A family had a pet crow plus a pet cat, and the two barely tolerated each other. One morning the cat was given a tasty treat, which the crow
Read more →American comics, especially Archie comics, were as much a part of my Tasmanian childhood as books were. How I loved those high school pals and rivals…. Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and Reggie. In pre-television days it was ‘Yankee’ comic books that introduced me to the wonder of
Read more →I have a single English blackbird in my Australian garden. But oh dear, what a mess he makes of my paths with his incessant scratching around for worms and insects. 😨 I have been tempted to pop him in pie. OK, let’s begin with some words
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