Boxes of transparencies taken by my in-laws, Jean and Alan Conolly had not been opened in nearly 60 years.Ā They were mostly family shots taken around Hobart (Glenorchy and Sandy Bay)Ā in the 1950s and early 60s.Ā I might add that my own parentsĀ were still using an old Box Brownie at that stage.
I realizedĀ my partner Rob would never have time to look through them,Ā so one wet and coldĀ day I carted them up from the garageĀ and made a start.Ā The brass bell in the following photo was to call Rob for room service. I thought that was fair enough, since the pics wereĀ of his family. šĀ As for turningĀ any decent shots into digital images, well neither of us had any idea how to go about it.
I wasĀ idly holding one against my bedside lamp whenĀ it occurred to me that I couldĀ just photograph the image with my phone and crop it etc.
Oh my word, it was a revelation.Ā The result was definitely not professional quality, but perfectly adequateĀ for my nostalgic purposes.
In tribute toĀ the TasmanianĀ author Nan Chauncy I call this one ‘They Found a Cave’.Ā That’s Rob sittingĀ in front.
The 1950s were suchĀ carefree days for a little boy. There wereĀ many shots takenĀ withĀ his Mum, his beloved CorgiĀ and his football.
The classroom calls.Ā All too soonĀ it was off to school at Glenorchy with his big sister Judi.
Goodness knows where this bar-b-que was taking place, but the grass tussocks look a bit of a fire hazard.
Here we have a picnic with friends, by the water somewhere. That’s my late mother-in-law Jean organizing things. Knowing her, the food would have been wonderful,
What a classic shot this is. Laundry drying onboard yachts at Constitution Dock, probably after a Sydney-HobartĀ race.Ā Neither of the boats belonged toĀ my father-in-law Alan, but heĀ was passionate about sailing from the days of his boyhood in Manly. I seem to have transposed this slide; all too easy to do unfortunately. The name of the yacht on the left is Birrarlee. It would be great if someone remembers her.
Of all the transparenciesĀ I captured with my phone, this one charmed me the most. A row of girl guides skipping with simple joy. I would love to know more about the occasion. Perhaps they were on a camping trip? The girl with the bare knees is Judi. I have no idea who the others are, nor the identity of the rope holders. The little onlooker with the pink jumper andĀ pigtails was probably wishing she could join in.
A few years on and JudiĀ is ready for her deb ball.Ā It was a right of passage in those days. Jean would definitely have made both dresses.
Here is a teenage Rob contemplating life on a trip to Hong Kong, circa 1965.Ā AlanĀ Conolly worked forĀ the HobartĀ companyĀ Silk & Textiles and spent a lot of time overseas.Ā On this occasion the whole family travelled with him.
The worst quality slide I decided to keep is very special. A three or four year old Rob is standing by a little chest of drawers his father made. That looks like a model boat beside him.
Seventy years later it is a cherished piece of furniture in our Blue Mountains home.Ā The photo on displayĀ is of Alan inĀ uniform during WWII. He enlisted in the A.I.F,Ā but transferred to the R.A.A.F toĀ train as a pilot. The silver tankard is a sailing trophy awarded to him in 1939,
I was so pleased we didn’t throw the transparencies out beforeĀ looking at them. They representĀ a little slice of Tasmanian life.
For someĀ ‘proper’ ways to make digital images from slides. CLICK HERE.
Pauline,
I am the youngest of 4 children and the last survivor. When my sister died a few years ago, my neice boxed up my mother’s slides which my sister had been holding, and sent them to me. I kept, and named, the family ones for future generations. But a lot showed early years of my home town. I donated them to the local history museum, hoping someone else will find them interesting in years to come.
Well done you Barbara. I would never have thought of donating them to a local history museum. š
Such wonderful memories looking back at old pics. You did a great job photographing the skudes
Thanks so much Pam. I’m glad I did it.